Why flip-flops are bad for your feet

Flip-flops have gained a lot of popularity in the last few years. There are so many colours, metallic finishes, wedges, platforms and patterns available. For many of us flip-flops are “the” shoe of the summer and with them being relatively inexpensive, we can’t get enough of them!

However, there are a lot of reasons why flip-flops can cause damage to your feet. Below I have listed some interesting facts about flip-flops that you never knew!

5 reasons why flip-flops are bad for your feet

1. They Cause Bunions and Hammer Toes
   Bunions are painful, bony protrusions on your feet, usually right on the side of your foot below your big toe. Flip-flops are a major culprit because they create an unnaturally flat surface and force your ligaments and tendons to tug in the wrong spots and your toes to curl. When your toes curl to keep the flip-flops in place, the small muscles around your toes weaken, leading to hammer toes over time.
2. They don’t support your arches
   One of the biggest problems with flip-flops is that most of them have virtually zero arch support. Every foot has a bit of a natural arch to it in the middle. Shoes with arch support inside carry the weight of your foot and preserve the shape of your arch. Without arch support, your ligaments and tendons will start to tug in all the wrong directions to compensate. All that tugging on the ligaments translates to one thing: pain in your feet, which might trigger bunions, heel spurs, and plantar fasciitis.
3. They allow fungus to grow and fester and they cause blisters
   If your flip-flops have a soft foam base, you are very likely looking at fungus city, especially if you ever wear them in the water. You wear flip-flops to avoid catching fungus, but the fungus and bacteria get in anyway, and make a nice cosy home in the porous foam, and from there to your feet. To avoid this keep them dry and clean, and replace them often.
4. They are a common cause of tripping over and slow you down
   It is incredibly easy to trip and fall while wearing these floppy shoes. Any shoe that doesn’t fully stay on your foot is a recipe for twisted ankles, stubbed toes, and trip-and-fall accidents. Running / or even just walking in flip-flops will slow you right down, because it’s hard to keep them on your feet as you move. You have to continuously grip and re-grip them with your toes to make progress, which means that they can be a serious liability if you need to move fast.
5. They hurt your heels
   We all know the sound flip-flops make when you walk in them: “Slap-slap-slap.”
   That’s the sound of the soles hitting your heels, and your heels hitting the pavement, over and over again. Flip-flops basically force you to step in such a way that all your weight comes down hard on your heels. This makes your feet ache and the added pressure on the skin can also lead them to develop calluses and cracked skin.

Medipod Clinics – Flip-flop responsibility

I know it sounds all “doom and gloom”! As a podiatrist, I have the responsibility to inform you of what is appropriate for your feet so that you can make the right choice. Most of us have the luxury to buy loads of pairs of shoes over the years, but we only have one pair of feet!

If you don’t look after your feet, you may experience foot problems in the future such as, bunions, claw toes, heel pain, shin splints, tendinitis, fungal infections, ingrowing toenails, and many more.

Podiatrists at Medipod Clinics are trained to help you choose the right shoes for your feet. We understand how your foot works and we can also advise you about your children’s feet.

If you are already experiencing any foot pain, we are more than happy to help. Give us a call today on 01455 246100 to chat through your needs.

For more information about our podiatry services, please contact us on 01455 246100. We would love to help you with any foot related questions.

Thanks for reading,
Faye Vogiatzoglou
medipodclinics.com