Flip Flops - Fashionable but Unhealthy

With the warm weather on its way - many will once again sport flip flops as convenient, economical and fashionable footwear.  But the stylish shoe comes at a price to our bodies.

Flip flops provide absolutely no support to the arch or foot as a whole and are a very unstable base for our body.  The wearer is constantly scrunching the toes to hold the sandal on to the foot which can lead to overuse injury.  The calf muscles and Achilles tendon are stretched and strained.  They also impair the foot to function as a shock absorbing part of the body. 

This can lead to a number of short- and long-term issues including:

ˇ         Sprained ankles

ˇ         Nerve damage

ˇ         Tendon and joint instability

ˇ         Tendonitis

ˇ         Shin Splints

ˇ         Foot pain

ˇ         Leg pain

ˇ         Knee pain

ˇ         Hip pain

ˇ         Low back pain

So while they may look good, flip flops are very dangerous and unhealthy for the body.  A sandal with a strap across the foot and arch support (for example, Birkenstock or Teva brands) are a better choice of summer footwear.  The best choice for any moderate to high amount of walking is a tie-up sneaker with good arch support.

If you aren't convinced of the perils of flip flops and absolutely must wear them, see below for a better (not best!) alternative.