Cost of Good Feet

[myrdale]

My right foot has been bothering me for a while. It's worse in the mornings or after long walks. I went to see a podiatrist a few months ago. She x-rayed me and said she thought it was just plantar fasciitis. She prescribed a weeks worth of steroids, sold me some inserts and made a wrap out of ace bandages and foam for support. I was good for about a month, but over the last two it's started aching again.

This past weekend I took a trip down to the local Good Feet store. These people are either miracle workers or scam artist. I've yet to make up my mind.

When I walked in the store there was a guy getting up to leave, who was literally crying about how amazing his results were and how he had his life back. I can be paranoid and it seemed too over the top, but maybe it was real, surely they don't keep actors on staff right?

Anyway, there salesman gives me his spiel. Their system is comprised of (3) separate sets of inserts. Strengthener, Maintainer, Relaxer. Each set is $500. You can potentially spend $1,500 or more at this place.

The salesman had me walk around and discussed how my posture had changed from before and after trying them. This is the snake oil part that I really couldn't see or tell a difference. I've also seen YouTube videos where the salesman pushes down on your hands forcing you to move and then repeats afterwards, big red flag on that nonsense. He didn't do that with me.

I only bought the strengthener set. They have a break in schedule for using. 30 min day 1, 60 min day 2, then working up in 30 minute units till you're at the full 8 hours.

If it works it's worth $500. Has anyone had any experience good or bad? Actual reviews have been really hard to come by.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Never heard of this but I'm tempted

[crazyliblady]

My right foot has been bothering me for a while. It's worse in the mornings or after long walks. I went to see a podiatrist a few months ago. She x-rayed me and said she thought it was just plantar fasciitis. She prescribed a weeks worth of steroids, sold me some inserts and made a wrap out of ace bandages and foam for support. I was good for about a month, but over the last two it's started aching again.

This past weekend I took a trip down to the local Good Feet store. These people are either miracle workers or scam artist. I've yet to make up my mind.

When I walked in the store there was a guy getting up to leave, who was literally crying about how amazing his results were and how he had his life back. I can be paranoid and it seemed too over the top, but maybe it was real, surely they don't keep actors on staff right?

Anyway, there salesman gives me his spiel. Their system is comprised of (3) separate sets of inserts. Strengthener, Maintainer, Relaxer. Each set is $500. You can potentially spend $1,500 or more at this place.

The salesman had me walk around and discussed how my posture had changed from before and after trying them. This is the snake oil part that I really couldn't see or tell a difference. I've also seen YouTube videos where the salesman pushes down on your hands forcing you to move and then repeats afterwards, big red flag on that nonsense. He didn't do that with me.

I only bought the strengthener set. They have a break in schedule for using. 30 min day 1, 60 min day 2, then working up in 30 minute units till you're at the full 8 hours.

If it works it's worth $500. Has anyone had any experience good or bad? Actual reviews have been really hard to come by.

I have never heard of this brand or product, so I cannot speak to how well it works.

However, I also have trouble with my feet to the point I also went to podiatrists who did not help, including one who wanted to give me anti-depressants.

One suggestion I would have is pretty inexpensive, around $25-$30, and that is Spenco. I have used their orthotics for my flat feet (super-pronated), but they also make insoles for plantar fasciitis. Until I was able to afford buying Asics shoes, I used Spenco orthotics which helped give my feet better support. Here is the Spenco URL for the insoles. https://www.spenco.com/all-products.html?body_part=1889

One thing I would consider, though, is to ask you if you have thought about changing what kind of shoes you wear. I have been working Asics for years and consider them well worth the money. I don't buy in a brick and mortar store, though, as they are typically $150 and they don't have the models that will provide better arch support. I get the ones for running and buy them in the asics ebay store where they are typically around $75-$100. (https://www.ebay.com/str/asicsamerica) They ship out pretty fast and for free.

[james.hendrickson]

My right foot has been bothering me for a while. It's worse in the mornings or after long walks. I went to see a podiatrist a few months ago. She x-rayed me and said she thought it was just plantar fasciitis. She prescribed a weeks worth of steroids, sold me some inserts and made a wrap out of ace bandages and foam for support. I was good for about a month, but over the last two it's started aching again.

This past weekend I took a trip down to the local Good Feet store. These people are either miracle workers or scam artist. I've yet to make up my mind.

When I walked in the store there was a guy getting up to leave, who was literally crying about how amazing his results were and how he had his life back. I can be paranoid and it seemed too over the top, but maybe it was real, surely they don't keep actors on staff right?

Anyway, there salesman gives me his spiel. Their system is comprised of (3) separate sets of inserts. Strengthener, Maintainer, Relaxer. Each set is $500. You can potentially spend $1,500 or more at this place.

The salesman had me walk around and discussed how my posture had changed from before and after trying them. This is the snake oil part that I really couldn't see or tell a difference. I've also seen YouTube videos where the salesman pushes down on your hands forcing you to move and then repeats afterwards, big red flag on that nonsense. He didn't do that with me.

I only bought the strengthener set. They have a break in schedule for using. 30 min day 1, 60 min day 2, then working up in 30 minute units till you're at the full 8 hours.

If it works it's worth $500. Has anyone had any experience good or bad? Actual reviews have been really hard to come by.

Um...$1,500 for footwear seems excessive to me. Yes, good quality footwear is going to help you, but do you really need $1,500 footwear vs. $300 footwear?

[disneysteve]

I think crazyliblady is correct. The most important thing to do first is make sure you are wearing good shoes that aren't worn out and properly fit your feet. That means getting them professionally fitted, not just grabbing any size 10s off the shelf. Every brand and model is a little different. Go to your local running store. They will ask you some questions about your activities and any issues you're having, measure your feet, watch you walk/run, and have you try on multiple different pairs of shoes. They'll also probably look at the shoes you have currently to see how you wear them. That helps guide what sort of support you need.

The orthotics that the podiatrists and from the sounds of it that Good Feet store are selling are mostly snake oil. Good shoes and maybe a modestly priced additional insole (under $100) is all that 99% of people need. Unless you have some anatomic abnormality or other medical issue, you very likely don't need anything more than that.

[ua_guy]

If I recall, custom orthotics tend to be cheaper from an actual podiatrist. My husband used to have a set which he wore after his foot was crushed in a motorcycle accident. His doctor also recommended a particular fitment and model of shoe, one which is still being made today, almost 20 years later, and which he still buys and wears.

Good Feet is just putting a "system" and store front on insoles and shoe supports. But hey, if it works, it was money well spent. If not, well, that's the expense of research

[QuarterMillionMan]

Most of our body parts are asymmetrical meaning it's not exactly the same. My right foot is a little larger than my left foot and I notice at the end of the day my right foot is more sore than my left foot where it must swell more. Also, my left leg must be a little shorter than my right leg because I notice my footwear tends to wear out at the left heal's sole where I must be dragging my left foot. My left eye is getting blurrier and blurrier so I made an appt with an eye doctor where they ran a bunch of eye tests and I guess old age is setting in, no cataracts and some other diagnoses were ruled out. Still have more tests to go to in September.

Correction my leg must be longer than my right leg due to the left heal's sole wearing out where I must not be lifting up my left leg high enough.

[Fishindude77]

My chiropractor talked me into buying some expensive, fancy insoles allegedly custom molded to my feet.
Uncomfortable as heck, tried them a few times and pitched them in the trash.

[disneysteve]

I also have trouble with my feet to the point I also went to podiatrists who did not help, including one who wanted to give me anti-depressants.

I'm not sure if this applies here but a number of anti-depressants are used for pain management purposes. It's not uncommon for a provider to prescribe them for that reason, not for depression.

[myrdale]

I'm not sure if this applies here but a number of anti-depressants are used for pain management purposes. It's not uncommon for a provider to prescribe them for that reason, not for depression.

I was sort of shocked when I saw that she said that, I'm glad to know there is some possible reasoning behind it.

[myrdale]

I think crazyliblady is correct. The most important thing to do first is make sure you are wearing good shoes that aren't worn out and properly fit your feet. That means getting them professionally fitted, not just grabbing any size 10s off the shelf. Every brand and model is a little different. Go to your local running store. They will ask you some questions about your activities and any issues you're having, measure your feet, watch you walk/run, and have you try on multiple different pairs of shoes. They'll also probably look at the shoes you have currently to see how you wear them. That helps guide what sort of support you need.

The orthotics that the podiatrists and from the sounds of it that Good Feet store are selling are mostly snake oil. Good shoes and maybe a modestly priced additional insole (under $100) is all that 99% of people need. Unless you have some anatomic abnormality or other medical issue, you very likely don't need anything more than that.

Merrell mid hiking boots is what I wear 90% of the time. I use them for work / hiking / general out and about type stuff. Typically I go through a pair a year.

For the gym and sometimes walking at the park its a pair of running type shoes.

It's funny how these things come up, a coworker was telling me about his wife visiting a local running store earlier today. I'll check them out when I purchase my next set of shoes.

[myrdale]

My chiropractor talked me into buying some expensive, fancy insoles allegedly custom molded to my feet.
Uncomfortable as heck, tried them a few times and pitched them in the trash.

That was one of their lines they used. "The inserts are not molded to how your feet are, they are molded to how your feet should be." And then over time your foot strengthens / adjust to the new form.

[myrdale]

Good Feet is just putting a "system" and store front on insoles and shoe supports. But hey, if it works, it was money well spent. If not, well, that's the expense of research

I think that's a pretty accurate assessment.

[crazyliblady]

I'm not sure if this applies here but a number of anti-depressants are used for pain management purposes. It's not uncommon for a provider to prescribe them for that reason, not for depression.

The doctor recommended that treatment, but when I asked about side effects (I know the side effects - it was a test for him), he told me there aren't any. Big red flag for me. The only thing he said that made any sense was that I had massive inflammation. I will not go back to that doctor. I have had good results by wearing better shoes.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think good shoes are important and an easy fix