Earth shoes are wonderful, but they are not for everybody. I was suffering
from a terrible case of plantar fascittis (http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/987116429.html) after walking in a 60 mile walk to raise money for breast cancer. I was destined to wear tennis shoes with good arch support the rest of my life. I had tried physical therapy, icing, stretching, ultra sound therapy, taping my feet - nothing helped. It was summer and it was hot and I wanted sandals. I found the earth shoes and WOW. The negative heel allowed my facia to rest on the arch support and literally it massaged it every time I walked. I did eventually find a chiropractor who specializes in limbs and between her and the earth shoes n I am a new person. One who can walk not only out of necessity but also for exercise.

yours faithfully (now I have discovered you) Ursula

I feel the shoes are most appropriate for folks with an accentuated lumbar lordosis (i.e. accentuated lumbar curve). The shoes effectively rotate the pelvis back, flattening the lumbar curve, which allows for a straightening of the thoracic and cervical spine as well. Common theory is that the center of the L3 vertebral body should rest, on lateral x-ray, directly above the anterior 1/3 of the base (top) of the sacrum. A large percentage of the population at large are in a posture in which the center of L3 rides anterior to (in front of) the sacral base entirely. These are the people who would likely obtain the most benefit from the earth shoes.

Just sharing information.... Mark Ferri, D.O.

I am writing to thank you for being part of the team to produce the best
shoes I have ever worn! About a year ago I was diagnosed with a painful nerve condition in my feet called Mortons Neuroma. This condition occurs when, through structural problems in the foot or excessive exercise, the nerve between the 2nd and 3rd or 3rd and 4th metatarsal becomes inflamed. The resulting symptom, at least in my case, was shooting pain in the ball of my foot which rendered me unable to take a normal stride. My feet literally felt like a railroad stake was driving up into them when I put any pressure on them at all.

Needless to say I was heartbroken and for many months only able to walk normally with specially built orthotics in my sneakers and boots. All fall and winter I dreaded the upcoming summer, when I presumed I would only be able to wear sneakers, no sandals, because obviously I could not put my orthotics in sandals. However, early in the Spring as I was driving to work one day I noticed a bill board that was advertising Earth Shoes" For Natural Body Alignment". I was intrigued and went to the store Earthly Soles to see what they were all about.

To my incredible delight I found that two different pairs of Earth sandals fit my feet perfectly and due entirely to the design of the shoe and how the built in metatarsal pads and negative heal technology distributed my weight across my feet...I could walk with no pain! It was such a profound moment for me to realize that I would be able to wear sandals this summer and not be confined to hot and unstylish sneakers during the summer months. I promptly bought two pairs and have worn them all summer. I can not adequately put into words how much it has meant to me to find Earth Shoes. Having the shoes literally changed my life this summer and I am grateful that I discovered them. The shoes have not cured my Mortons Nueroma, but while I have been undergoing treatment for the condition, I have been able to walk comfortably and feel like a normal person again....

Sincerely and Gratefully yours,
Lissa Bittermann
Bio-Pharmaceutical Consultant