How to protect your feet when wearing flip-flops

We are obsessed over our love of flip-flops. They’re fun, cheap, and easy to slip on, they keep your feet cool, and they come in cute colors and styles and can be casual and chic.  They’re also notoriously bad for your feet.  Even though they are better than going barefoot, these popular summer comfort shoe are unstructured enough to provide little protection or support for your feet and that means only one thing – increased foot problems.

 If we used flip-flops like they are intended to be used for short-term use such as wearing them at the beach, around swimming pools, in showers and locker rooms at the gym or short trips to the store, they are fine. However, many of us are wearing them everywhere and all year long for extended lengths of time creating issues with our feet. 

The harm of wearing flip-flops

Here are some ways in which flip-flops can fail to protect the health of your feet:

·      They provide no arch or heel support, cushioning, or shock absorption.  They also cause you to have to grip them with your toes to keep them on.

·      They leave feet exposed making you susceptible to stubbed toes, glass cuts, puncture wounds, bruises, torn nails, and insect bites.

·      Wear them too often and they can lead to minor problems such as chafing, blisters, calluses, or soreness.

·      They also can lead to more serious issues such as plantar fasciitis, hammer toes, and stress fractures.

·      Anyone who has diabetes should not wear flip-flops as they need the protective function of a shoe that covers their toes.    Any injury to their feet can become serious even leading to amputation.

·      Never run or play sports in flip-flops – always wear proper sports shoes.  Trying to play Frisbee or a backyard football or soccer game can result in suffering from a sprained ankle, fractures, and severe ligament injuries that could require surgery.

·      This advice also includes never wearing flip-flops on a hiking trail – they are meant for walking on flat surfaces and not rough terrain.  Flip-flops do not allow you to achieve a powerful walking stride of striking with the heel and pushing off with the toe.  What you end up with is a shorter stride, clomping along flat-footed. 

·      Wearing flip-flops while driving is highly discouraged.  They can come off the foot becoming lodged under the brake or gas pedal interfering with their functioning and increasing the possibility of a car crash.

·      Remember, exposed feet need sunscreen.  Constant wearing of flip-flops only allows harmful sun rays to cause sunburn which is bad for your skin and doesn’t make a very good fashion statement either.

What to look for when choosing a healthier flip-flop

In a 2008 study, researchers at Auburn University found flip-flops actually change the way wearers walk, sometimes permanently.  Those changes can wreak havoc on the rest of the body, with distinct and noticeable effects on everything from the wearer’s posture to their gait. 

Does this mean you should throw out your dozens of pairs of flip-flops? Not exactly, do heed these tips for keeping your exposed feet happy and healthy:

·      Choose flip-flops that bend only in the ball of the foot.  Most flip-flops notoriously lack any kind of structure or support for the feet.  When purchasing flip-flops, test them out first. If you can bend them in half or twist them into a pretzel, this is not good.  Choose ones that bend only where you need it to bend when walking which is at the ball of the foot. Flip-flops with minimal flexibility will provide better balance, arch support and alignment prevent foot fatigue. 

·      Check sizing of the flip-flop. Try them on in the store making sure your heels and toes are not hanging off the edge of the sole.  This only increases your risk of getting a nasty cut or a painful stubbed toe.  Never buy oversized flip-flops either.  They can catch on uneven surfaces and cause you to trip.

·      If your closet is filled with old flip-flops from years past, it’s time to weed the old ones out.  Get rid of any with cracks in the sole or signs that the post is coming loose.  Any that show a deep indention in the sole showing the outline of your toes from last year means it’s time to replace them.

·      Use common sense of where you wear flip-flops. Maneuvering yourself down or up a steep hill wearing flip-flops is asking for trouble.  The top posts can bite into your feet when going downhill and when walking uphill, they can slide right off of them. The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recommends not wearing them for distance walking, while gardening or playing sports.  Choose an athletic shoe instead.  Flip-flops change your walking gait since your toes flex to try to keep the sandal on your foot.  Instead of achieving a powerful walking stride by pushing with the heel and pushing off with the toe, you end up with a shorter stride and end up clomping along flat-footed. APMA has a complete list of flip-flops along with other shoes that have the Seal of Acceptance on their site.