The Carbon Fiber Shoe Plate is used to stiffen shoes. Indications for Flat Carbon Shoe Plate include midfoot arthritis, midfoot fractures and metatarsal stress fracture. Learn more in this article about the indications and uses of the Carbon Fiber Shoe Plate Flat.
When would I choose to use a Glass Fiber Shoe Plate?
How do I use a Glass Fiber Shoe Plate?
Glass Fiber Shoe Plates are one of our more popular shoe insert products. Used to stiffen the shoe, Glass Fiber Shoe Plates are great inserts that have a number of unique applications. How do they stack up compared to our Molded Turf Toe Plates or our Spring Plates? Let's take a look at what I consider to be the indications for a Glass Fiber Shoe Plate.
First, I look at the Glass Fiber Shoe Plate as a fundamental part of the shoe. What I mean by that is that the Glass Fiber Shoe plate ought to be placed deep within the shoe, under any existing insert. Basically, the Glass Fiber Shoe Plate ought to act to supplement the shank of the shoe. The shank is that stiff portion of the shoe that reinforces the arch and limits flex of the arch. The Flat Glass Fiber Plate really does need to have a cover of some sort, preferably an arch support or orthotic.
What are the indications for the Flat Glass Fiber Shoe Plate? Indications include:
- Midfoot arthritis
- Midfoot injury (Lisfranc's fracture or dislocation)
- Arch strain or arch pain
- Midfoot fractures
- Cuboid Syndrome
- Metatarsal stress fractures
To manage forefoot pain including capsulitis, plantar plate tears, metatarsalgia, Freiberg's infraction, and Morton's neuroma, I tend to prescribe more Spring Plates. The rocker sole on the Spring Plate works much better to accommodate forefoot pain. And for turf toe and hallux limitus or hallux rigidus? That's when I defer to the Molded Turf Toe Plate or the Flat Turf Toe Plate.
One last note on Flat Glass Fiber Plates - we have a number of customers who have told us that the Flat Glass Fiber Plate has really saved the day on construction sites. Nail and screw punctures are a common injury on construction sites. The Flat Carbon Plate is a lightweight measure of protection from puncture injuries.
Remember, the Flat Glass Fiber Plate is part and parcel of the shoe. It needs to go under an insert like a Pedag Sport or a Pedag Viva Full Length Arch Support.
Jeff
Medical Director
Myfootshop.com
Updated 3/23/2021
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I am a 53 y.o. female who was diagnosed earlier this year with mid-foot arthritis on the top of both feet. I have managed the pain by choosing shoes that have stiff soles and/or rocker bottoms (Alegria, Skechers, Hoka One One, El Naturalista.) Finding the right shoe and ones that fit has been time-consuming and frustrating so am now considering purchasing carbon graphite plates to allow me more variety.
Given that I have been wearing rocker bottom shoes without problems, I am not sure which plate to order? Would one style, for example, the flat plate be able to fit in a wider variety of shoes?
In your case I would lean more towards the Spring Plates. Both the Spring Plates and the flat shoe plates work to create a stiff shank. Why is that important?
The shank of the shoe acts as a brace along the bottom of the arch. Essentially the shank helps to carry the mechanical load generated by the calf muscle out to the forefoot. The shank is the brace for your midfoot arthritis.
Spring plates are a wee bit thinner and have toe spring (forefoot rocker) whereas the flat plates are very rigid with no toe spring. I tend to put the flat plates more in boots and hiking shoes.
Both would work for you, but from your description I'd lean more towards the Spring Plates.
Jeff
Not to belabour the point but you mentioned you recommend the flat plates for boots and hiking shoes. I would specifically be putting the plates into every day boots/booties and running shoes (for working out, not running!) I live in an urban environment and generally walk about 12,000 steps a day, according to my Fitbit :) Still think spring plate?
Also on a side note, I was wondering if you ever recommend that patients with mid-foot arthritis not walk as much to lessen the overall load over time? Cycling is a realistic alternative for me.
The spring plates are still going to be the better choice. Lighter and really more compatible with the activities that you describe.
Decrease your walking? The funny thing with osteoarthritis (OA) is that it'll let you know your limits. But I'd try to be as active as possible with a bit of cross training. Cycling would be excellent. With OA, when you have those days where you wake up stiff or get out of the care after a long drive and feel that OA stiffness, that's what indicates maybe you're been a bit too active.
Jeff