good
for the so l e
2
Flip to
Healthy
Soles
These shoes (and we use
that term loosely!) were
never meant to give you the
structure, support or protec-
tion required to spend a day
walking or standing.
One of the problems with flip
flops is that they are made of
low quality materials. While
flip-flops are cheap (you can
often find them for under
$5) you most definitely only
“
get what you pay for”. These
sandals are mass produced
using low quality materials
which often results in a poor
fit causing blisters or even
adverse skin reactions to the
plastic “thong” portion.
People will often end up
at their doctor or foot care
specialist complaining of a
blister or rash between the
toes or across the top of the
foot. The foam that makes
up the sole of the sandals is
also made with sub-standard
materials and this can result
in the sandal breaking down
very quickly.
Next up – support (or the lack
of it!). Flip-flops offer little or
no contouring under the arch
of the foot, around the heel
or under the toes. This causes
the muscles of the foot to
work differently while you
are walking. A well known
study from Auburn University
documents the differences
between walking in flip-
flops and athletic shoes. The
authors found that walking
in flip-flops causes you to
“
scrunch” your toes excessively
to hold the sandals onto your
feet. Doing so for an extended
period of time can predispose
you to conditions such as
hammer toes or claw toes,
not to mention the muscle
pain and cramps caused by
overusing these toe muscles.
Another major finding from
the study was that people
wearing flip-flops take shorter
steps. This translates to taking
more steps to cover a set dis-
tance and more steps means
more work for your feet and
legs. The lack of support
under the arch of the foot
could predispose certain
people to a condition called
Plantar Fasciitis. This condi-
tion is an inflammation of
the Plantar Fascia, a band of
connective tissue that runs
along the bottom of the foot.
Flip-flops allow the foot and
arch to fall completely flat and
this can stretch and irritate the
b e a c t i v e
Generic flip-flop (thong) style sandals may be fine for the beach, the
pool or the gym shower, but definitely not for a long, hot summer walk!
Yes, flip-flops are inexpensive, cute and colourful but that is where their
benefits stop. Love them at the beach or pool, but leave them when it’s
time to hit the mall or sight see around your vacation destination!
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