Side effects of wearing flip-flops
Not only can the sandals expose you to bacteria, they can actually change the way you walk... permanently.
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Can Flip-Flops Make You Sick? The Side Effects of Summer's Casual Footwear...
By KAREN KWAN
–26 Jun, 2012
With summer finally here, it’s time to break out the
flip-flops, or is it?
Flip-flops are easy to slip on and can be worn
with most of your summer gear (not to mention they allow you to show off your fresh pedicure) but these comfy and casual shoes may be leading you down the road to some serious health issues rather than fun in the sun.
A flip-flop’s sole can help reduce the load
Not all the news is bad on this front: The flat, flexible sole of a flip-flop does offer some advantages.
In a study published in Arthritis Care & Research, in 2010, researchers found this type of flat, flexible sole helps reduce the load on the knee joints, when compared to shoes with supportive, more stable soles
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Flip-flops can exacerbate existing foot issues
“Wearing flip-flops all the time can be harmful, especially if you have a condition such as flat feet,” says Dr. Andrew Klayman, a podiatrist based in Toronto, noting, they can lead to acute strain or even slight tearing of the tendon.
“They’re very flat and offer no support.
"There’s no strap system to hold your foot into place on them so your foot flies around,” he adds.
Klayman says they’re fine, in moderation.
If you’re at the beach or by the pool, flip-flops can make sense, but he does not recommend taking walks in them, noting flip-flops can strain your arch, and you can roll over an ankle easily, wearing them.
Flip-flops can change how you walk
In a study presented in the 2008 at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, researchers found people alter their gait when walking in flip-flops—changing the force and angle at which their feet strike the ground.
This alters stride could be why some flip-flop fans experience pain in the lower legs.
Flip-flops can make you sick
Studies show flip-flops harbor more than 18,000 types of bacteria—including everything from fecal matter and skin to respiratory germs, plus a potentially lethal germ, Staphylococcus aureus.
Considering how easy it is to get a cut or blister on your feet in the summer, and how often you pick up your flip-flops with your hands, these germs may easily find their ways into our systems.
Flip-flops offer little shock absorption
Another hazard of flip-flops, their thin soles, says Dr. Klayman.
“They offer no shock absorption.
"If you’re walking on concrete, you need footwear that’ll absorb more,” he says, adding it is possible to wear flip-flops without realizing the pain and future injury they are inflicting until it is too late.
What to look for in your summer footwear
Ready to ditch the flip flops for something healthier?
Look for shoes that offer your feet the support they need (especially your foot’s arch).
Straps that hold the shoe securely to your foot (compared to the dangerous looseness of a flip flop) is important, too, since has a sturdier outer sole, says Dr. Klayman.
His top shoe brand choices?
Naot, Teva, Mephisto, and Alegria.
If you’re wondering about the other favorite shoe of summer... Crocs?
Crocs offer a bit more support than a flip-flop, but, he recommends them more for lounging and short strolls, rather than any extended walks.
They are also just as unhygienic.
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