Are Birkenstocks Good for Achilles Tendonitis? [Facts 2024]

Written By Mahia

Like the Greek Warrior, you too could be fighting with your opponent – Achilles Tendonitis!

And the comfy sandals of Birkenstocks can be your mighty weapon to defend this nemesis.

Birkenstocks sandals are considered to be effective for foot conditions, including Achilles Tendonitis or Achilles Tendinopathy.

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Despite being good, there is some controversy about Birkenstocks among people.

Consequently, you may wonder if Birkenstocks are truly as good as they say for Achilles tendinopathy.

Therefore, I spent a couple of nights researching to put together the most verified info on this matter. And I’ve done it pretty well.

Read till the end to know all the truth about Birkenstocks being good for Achilles tendonitis.

What is Achilles Tendonitis?

Achilles Tendonitis is the injury causing immense pain in the Achilles tendon and heel area.

It is said that such pain can weaken the strongest person and cause major disruptions in day-to-day activities.

However, Achilles Tendonitis injures the Achilles tendon, the area that connects the calf muscle to the heels. It causes pain at the back of the leg, just above the heel.
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Creating serious back-on-heel pain, Achilles Tendonitis can make your life miserable.

However, if you don’t have Achilles tendinopathy, then feel lucky cause I know how painful it is to have one.

My father once suffered from this disgusting foot condition once. It’s something you don’t wanna have or get treated as quickly as possible.

And to avoid such discomfort, I would personally recommend Birkenstocks. Wearing Birks can prevent diseases like Achilles Tendinopathy as well as heal the pain.

You may also like to read about should you wear Birkenstocks to Disneyland.

How Do You Know You Have Achilles Tendonitis?

Do you feel stiffness in the heel area when you wake up and try to make the first step of the day?

Perhaps your Achilles tendon gets swelling and warmth, and you can’t stand up on your feet. Or you may feel pain near the back of your feet and find trouble walking or running.

All these symptoms suggest that you have Achilles Tendonitis.

So, if any of such discomfort happens to your feet, then consider yourself suffering from Achilles Tendonitis.

Causes of Achilles Tendonitis

When you overuse your Achilles Tendon, the band of tissue that connects your calf muscle to the bottom of the feet, Achilles Tendonitis occurs.

Overusing the tendon causes extra strain on your feet, and over time the tendon structure becomes weak. This causes Achilles injury.

Factors that may increase the risk of causing Achilles Tendonitis are:

  • Age
  • Sudden weight gain
  • Wearing shoes without an orthotic insole
  • Wrong pair of shoes
  • Accidental Injury
  • A physical problem like flat feet or plantar fasciitis
  • Spending more time on feet
  • The sudden strain on feet due to a heavy workout or training routine

Though the structure of your Achilles tendon may weaken by age, you can still avoid Achilles Tendonitis. Continue reading further to know the drill!

Are Birkenstocks Good for Achilles Tendonitis?

Yes, it is. Birkenstocks are widely popular for their supportive sole build for comforting the feet.

As the injury occurs due to a weak tendon, any shoe or sandals with proper contoured arch support certainly help with the pain.

And who doesn’t know why Birkenstocks are so special!

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They are the very company that invented the contoured arch in the first place.

So when looking for such functionality, no other name will stand out except Birkenstocks!

Their deep heel cup and supportive arch can give you the maximum support to your heel. Thus, it can prevent the inflammation of the tendon that causes Achilles Tendonitis.

Moreover, all sandals of Birkenstock are approved by APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association). Thus, it makes Birkenstocks undoubtedly the best sandals for foot problems like Achilles Tendonitis.

So, Whether you have Achilles Tendonitis or you wanna get precautions, Birkenstocks sandals can be your pair!

But before that, go through our epic guide about are Birkenstocks good for flat feet?

What Makes Birkenstocks Good for Feet Condition?

We know the cause of Achilles Tendonitis is the overusing of the tendon. Also, it can happen by injury or weakened tendons due to age.

The one thing that can prevent as well as comfort your unsettled feet is the right pair of shoes. Wearing shoes that have proper arch support and deep heels is very important to avoid such injuries.

Master shoemaker of Birkenstocks felt the need for orthodontic footwear centuries ago. Therefore, they invented their signature footbed and contoured arched sandals.

Because of these additions, Birkenstocks sandals are considered to be effective for foot conditions, including Achilles tendinopathy.

A number of features made Birkenstocks effective in Achilles Tendonitis, including:

Footbed

For anyone having flat feet or Achilles Tendonitis, arch and heel support can be the best feature a shoe can provide. And Birkenstocks contain all of them!

They make anatomically corrected footbeds mold with your feet and provide maximum arch support.

And the materials used for the footbed include natural cork with pure latex, jute fiber and pure leather.

All of these materials turned Birkenstocks into a powerhouse of comfort and support.

Orthopedic Insole

Birkenstocks are made of anatomically corrected insoles. And the material to build such a moldable insole is what makes them so special.

The jute-coated pure leather with a soft touch of cork made Birkenstocks’ insole breathable and highly cushioned. You can buy their insoles separately as per your need.

Midsole and Outsole

A thick layer of cork coated with organic jute fiber and latex made Birkenstocks midsole a beast. The rubber used to build the deep heel cup provides optimum relief and traction when you walk around.

Birkenstocks use the EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) to build their midsoles that provide shock absorption as well as comfort.

The bottom flat sole and maximum heel support help you with grip and traction during the movement.

Moreover, the elasticity and healthy cushioning in the outsole support your feet as well as provide you with the utmost comfort.

Healthy Strap

Most of the Birkenstocks shoe models come with multiple buckle straps, which are also adjustable. These healthy straps support your feet to fit them right and let you walk seamlessly.

Perfectly Fit

When you’re suffering from foot problems like Achilles Tendonitis, you don’t wanna go wrong with shoe sizing. A perfect-fit shoe can make a huge difference, whereas an ill-fitting shoe can ruin your body.

Likewise, Birkenstocks come with a wide variety of sizing options both for narrow and normal widths providing maximum flexibility to fit.

And when your feet can fit well, you’ll find both comfort and support wearing them. Thus, Birkenstocks became the recommended shoe brand when it comes to foot condition.

Fashion with Comfort

Birkenstocks make fashion-conscious shoe designs. Their unisex shoes and sandals are not like any other medical shoes.

With their elegant designs, you’ll never look dull and boring wearing them, rather, it’ll elevate your fashion!

As a result, you can easily wear them to most of your events which will increase the wear time. And the more you wear Birks more your pain will heal.

However, Birkenstocks’ designs can add style and modishness to your regular outfits, whereas its features can shower you with utmost comfort and support.

So, it’s a good thing that you can get the fashion with medicare comfort!

Do Podiatrists Recommend Birkenstocks?

If you have a foot problem like Flat Feet, Achilles Tendonitis or Plantar Fasciitis, it’s highly likely that your Podiatrist will recommend Birkenstocks!

Yes, Birkenstocks are recommended sandals for foot conditions by most doctors.
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Birks also gained the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) approval which proves its worth.

Among other models, Birkenstock Arizona and Unisex Barbados EVA Sandals are most recommended by Podiatrists.

Does Wearing Shoes Help Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles Tendonitis may be caused by overusing the Achilles Tendon without proper heel support. Thus, the wrong pair of shoes can create this painful injury.

And if a wrong pair of shoes can cause an injury, the right pair can fix it, right?

However, it (the right pair) can help you with your pain.

Do Birkenstocks Sandals Worsen the Achilles Tendonitis?

Though it will take a few days to break in the Birkenstocks pairs, there’s no evidence that Birkenstocks worsen the Achilles Tendonitis.

However, you may get Achilles Tendonitis from Birkenstocks if you don’t pick up the right size.

Ill-fitted shoes can cause improper distribution of your body weight and interrupt the grip. Thus, the Achilles Tendon and heels may fall into some disturbance bed and cause suffering.

To avoid the disturbance and quicken the break-in period, make sure you wear your Birks for at least 45-50 minutes straight for the first time. And then gradually the wear time.

Just give it a little time to mold in your feet and give you the best experience!

The Bottom Line

Achilles Tendonitis is a common foot problem that can worsen over time and make your life miserable.

So, it’s important to take precautions prior to catching this disease. On the other hand, you should give your foot as much comfort as possible after having Achilles Tendonitis.

In both cases, having Birkenstocks can make your life easier.

About The Author
Since childhood, Mahia is a shoe freak. And this is what lead her to do more research and gather knowledge about shoes.Mahia has always wanted to share her skill and knowledge about footwear with a mass audience, which ended her up in this amazing workplace.When Mahia is not writing, you can almost always find her in the kitchen experimenting with different recipes to upgrade her catering menu.

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