With the arrival of springtime, you likely look forward to warmer weather conditions. And as you make plans to hit the beach or the pool, you also might intend to adjust your footwear.
Flip-flops can be convenient to slip onto your feet and can keep your feet cool in the summer heat. But these shoes could lead to a number of issues in your toes, feet, and ankles if you wear them too often. Read on to learn about three types of health risks to your feet that can occur when you wear flip-flops on a frequent basis.
Potential Foot Problems That Develop from Wearing Flip-Flops
Toe Muscle Strain
Flip-flops feature a simple construction of a rubber band over the foot attached to a foam base. While the loose fit can feel freeing, your toes make up for the lack of support by gripping harder when you walk. This can strain the muscles of the toes, making them feel sore and wearing down the tendons.
The lack of arch support in combination with this over-gripping from the toes can lead to irritation and inflammation in the ligaments at the bottom of the foot too. This can create a painful condition known as plantar fasciitis that can severely disrupt your daily life. So while flip-flops can make for convenient footwear every now and then, it can be harmful to wear them frequently.
Feet Wear and Tear
The structure of flip-flops will encourage strain on the muscles and tendons of your feet as you walk in them. But the exposure of your bare feet to the outdoor environment can lead to damage to your feet too. You can have a higher chance of stubbing your toes, forming blisters, contracting infections on your feet, or suffering other injuries.
You might also exacerbate other foot problems relating to the structure of your feet without good support from your footwear. For instance, the arches of your feet could collapse, leaving you with flat feet. And you can form or worsen a hammertoe, bunion, or another foot deformity.
Body Soreness
The flimsy structure of a flip-flop will not offer much support to your feet. And this can leave you with soreness from the pressure of walking without cushioning. You can notice pain in your heels and the rest of your feet.
But this pain can extend to your knees, hips, and back over time. As your feet adjust to walking with the low-support footwear, your gait can alter. And these changes in the way you walk will overexert your legs, which can make them feel sore.
To protect your feet as well as your overall health, you should not choose flip-flops as your shoes for everyday use. Stick to footwear that offers a comfortable fit but appropriate support. If you have questions about how your current footwear impacts your well-being, consult your podiatrist in Newtown, PA by calling 215.234.3772 or reaching our office online.