An orthopedic surgeon and tenant at the LSU Louisiana Business and Technology Center has invented a flip-flop sandal designed to help people recover faster from heel pain.
“I have seen first-hand how extremely common and debilitating heel pain is and the negative impact it has on my patients’ quality of life during my time with the Air Force and now in my private practice,” says Dr. Meredith Warner, a veteran Air Force combat surgeon who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, in a prepared release.
Called The Healing Sole, the sandals are being sold online for $149.99 a pair. While that may seem expensive compared to most sandals, Warner notes it’s a lot cheaper than medical options for treating heel pain.
“I am determined to find a way to help people recover faster from heel pain and do so on their terms, rather than with expensive clinical options like surgery,” she says.
Warner has a patent pending on the design of the sandal, which helps ease a variety of heel pain, including plantar fasciitis, which about 10% of people will suffer from in their lifetime. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain, Warner says, which is caused by a degeneration of the plantar fascia, a type of ligament that connects the heel to the toes and supports the arch of the foot.
Although there is no one cause, putting too much stress on the ligament without proper arch support contributes to the condition. The Healing Sole’s design incorporates five different treatment modalities into one structure, which is designed to give the tissues a rest and to allow the body’s natural healing mechanisms to work after a long work day or workout, Warner says.
“This new technology is designed to provide relief when you need it,” she says.
Warner is the owner and practicing orthopedic surgeon at Warner Orthopedics and Wellness, which is based in Baton Rouge. She designed The Healing Sole while earning her MBA at LSU.
