Flip Flops and Their Risks to Your Feet and Ankles

I was walking around Town Square Sunday enjoying the warm weather and noticed that everyone, men, women, and children had their feet exposed in flip flops. This phenomenon began a couple of years ago and what was thought of as a fad has become a requirement for warm weather. They are very cute and vary in color and type of material leather, plastic, rubber etc. Unfortunately, these very comfy shoes that can be worn with anything from dresses to shorts are not very healthy for the feet.

Why, you may ask, are they unhealthy?

There is potential for skin irritation from the materials used in flip flops

Open toed shoes pose a greater risk of injury or infection

Sweat and bacterial buildup are an issue in warmer weather, although some newer companies are putting silver and other chemicals in their materials to reduce bacterial load Instability and potential for falling/sliding is increased in “shoe gear” with a flimsy outer sole The “shoe” does not provide enough arch support for walking long distances or for several hours of wear. It interferes with the wearer’s standard gait, which is the way that a person walks. The problem stems from the design of the sandal, which is essentially a flat foam or rubber sole with a thong. Flip- flops don’t provide much in the way of shock absorption when the heel hits the ground, due to the thin sole. This action can lead to foot pain, most commonly plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common forms of heel pain that occurs in runners and wearers of shoes with inadequate support.