Promoting foot health
To avoid injuries and strain, local foot experts recommend looking for sandals with:
- thick, cushioned soles
- arch support
- contoured heels
- straps, not thongs
It’s summertime, and the walking ain’t easy.
One of the most popular pieces of footwear for adults and children can cause serious, lifelong damage to their bodies if misused.
“If you repeatedly wear flip flops in ways they weren’t intended, you’re going to have problems,” said Regina “Reggie” Swickard, a certified pedorthist who operates Foot Focus in Dayton. “It may not hurt now, but over the long-term and for the youngsters, they can be looking at some very painful, very long recovery surgeries down the road.”
Swickard said the problem is the lack of support in the average flip flop.
“It’s flat – there’s nothing there to support you or to protect your feet,” she said. “What people don’t realize is you can end up with knee problems, back problems, leg problems, and of course foot pain.”
Flip flops have plenty of advantages: they’re affordable, they’re cool in the heat, they’re convenient and easy to slip on and off, and they’ve become a fashion statement.
They can even have a medical advantage at times. Dr. Richard Laughlin, an orthopedic surgeon with Wright State Physicians, said flip flops can help people with painful toe problems, because they don’t rub on an injured or sore area.
“Flip flops are good for in the shower at the gym, or between changes of clothes at the pool or beach,” Swickard said. “That’s what they’re intended for. They’re not intended to be worn all day — you’ve got to support that foot. Some people won’t have any problem, but other people will.”
Besides potential injuries to exposed toes, nails and feet, including sunburns, Swickard and Laughlin said flip flops can cause structural problems including overpronation, hip misalignment, low back pain, tendinitis in calves,changes in shoe size as feet splay out, collapsed arches, severe heel pain (often due to plantar fascitis), bunion pain and lost padding around the balls of the toes
“Mostly it hurts people with bottom-of-the-foot issues,” Laughlin said. “The ball of your foot and your heel are high pressure points. If you don’t have anything supporting them, it’s almost like walking barefoot.”
So how do you keep the benefits of the flip flop without hurting yourself?
“A lot of people think they can’t wear sandals at all, but yes, they can, they just have to spend the money and get a good pair,” Swickard said. “It’s about investing in yourself, because the $1.99 flip flops are more costly in the long run.”
Laughlin agreed, saying that some flip flops “are actually pretty good. The ones with a thick, firmer sole that’s not really flexible, contoured to the bottom of your foot, and that have a nice arch built in, can be quite comfortable and supportive. The ones people have trouble with are the cheaper ones that usually are flat, have no contour around your heel and have a much thinner sole that doesn’t stay centered on the bottom of your foot.”
He said to also look for flip flops with straps instead of thongs, one that is fairly thick and connects closer to the heel than the toes. “That can provide some arch support,” he said.
Swickard also recommends purchasing sandals that don’t force the foot to change shape to grip connection points between the toes.
Brands that specifically design sandals with both padding and support include Fit Flops, Birkenstocks, and Orthaheel orthotic sandals. A certified pedorthist can also remove and modify a sandal’s foot bed to improve fit and cushioning.
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