Minimalist Shoes - AFTER the Healing

I wanted to report something that I've hesitated to mention yet, for fear of leading you astray. I do believe with all my heart that what the experts say is true - when you're trying to heal from plantar fasciitis, it's necessary to wear arch support all the time.  All the time.  Even in the shower.  I took this as gospel for years and don't regret it.

And yet, I've found that the longer I've been healed, and pain-free, the more I like going barefoot or wearing shoes with minimal arch support.  I've tried the Vibram Five Fingers shoes, but they are somewhat awkward on my toes.  So last year, I started to do something I guess is kind of weird for a modern, urban, middle-aged woman: I made my own moccasins. They are basically leather socks, but they provide a tad more protection from the floor and ground.

And they work for me, somehow. I'm not telling you to try this, and I truly hesitate to advise it, because it's so radically different from what I've heard doctors say. I also don't wear them all the time, but when I wear them outside on the lawn while doing gardening work especially, they allow my arch muscles to really work as my toes grip the ground. I think they help build natural strength in my arch.  And it doesn't hurt that they're kind on my bunion. It's nice to be able to make the moccasins to fit me exactly.

So here are some photos, for the curious:

High-top boot moccasins I made when they were brand new (today, they're somewhat scruffier)

I made these out of elk skin. They wore out quickly, within a few months, but were very comfy.

These were high-top moccasins, short boots I made from buffalo leather.