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   Jul 19

The danger of flip flops: Expert warns they can PERMANENTLY damage your feet and cause you to trip

Wearing flip flops can cause Achilles tendon injury, says podiatrist and surgeon

Can be debilitating and in severe cases can lead to permanent pain and disability

The shoes can also lead to plantar fasciitis which sometimes needs surgery

They can alter your natural stride, resulting in shin splints and lower back pain

Use them only short-term use and get arch support and cushioned soles
Many of us opt for flip flops in the summer because they’re easy to slip on and allow your feet to breathe.

However the simple, but unstructured footwear can cause damage to your feet, an expert has warned.

Walking in flip-flops can alter your natural stride, resulting in shin splints, Achilles tendon problems and lower back pain, according to podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon Dr Christina Long.

They can also result in plantar fasciitis – inflammation of the band of tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot – as well as hammer toes and stress fractures.

It’s also easy to stub a toe or trip and fall while wearing flip-flops.

Walking in flip flops can cause Achilles tendon problems and lower back pain says expert (file)

‘This time of year I frequently see patients with foot conditions related to wearing flip-flops,’ said Dr Long, who works at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in North Carolina.

‘Wearing flip-flops is better than going barefoot because they do provide some protection for the bottoms of your feet, but that’s about it.

‘Flip-flops don’t offer any arch or heel support, and you have to grip them with your toes to keep them on.

‘Wearing them for too long or for the wrong activity can cause a lot of different problems,’ she explained.

Risks of permanent damage

An Achilles tendon injury is damage to the tendon which links calf muscles to the heel bone and can also be caused by wearing high heels.

Recovery may take months, depending on how serious the injury.

If you start pushing yourself before the Achilles tendon injury is fully healed, you could end up with permanent pain and disability.

Plantar fasciitis – the thickening of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue running underneath the sole of the foot – can be very painful.

Most cases resolve within a year, but if the heel pain is truly debilitating and interfering with normal activity, surgery may be needed.

Wearing flip-flops too often can lead to minor but irritating problems such as chafing, blisters, calluses and soreness.

They can also leave your feet exposed and susceptible to cuts, puncture wounds, bruises, torn nails, insect bites and sunburn.

BUYING FLIP FLOPS THAT WILL BE KIND TO YOUR FEET

If you want to wear flip-flops, look for those made of high-quality, soft leather, which minimize the potential for blisters and other types of irritation, the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recommends.

Gently bend the flip-flop from end to end, ensuring that it bends at the ball of the foot – it should not fold in half – and make sure your foot doesn’t hang off the edge of the flip-flop.

The APMA also says that all of your shoes – not just flip flops – should be slightly bigger than your feet.

Make sure you inspect older flip-flops and throw them away if they show signs of severe wear.

Get arch support and cushioned soles

But Dr Long advised that the popular footwear should not cause serious problems when they are worn for a brief time.

‘Flip-flops are fine for short-term use, especially if they have at least some arch support and a cushioned sole,’ she said.

‘They’re good to wear at the beach, around swimming pools, in showers and locker rooms at the gym, on short trips to the store.’

However, she warns that there are some activities where you should forgo the flip-flops entirely.

Driving is one of them – it’s easy for the shoes to slip off and they can get lodged between the pedals and the floor.

Also, never use them to when running, hiking, walking long distances, standing for extended periods, working in the yard or around the house or playing sports.

Source: Daily Mail

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