10 reasons why you should never wear flip flops.......Paraphased from the American Podiatric Medical Association News Brief
As the weather warms up, it's hard to resist the urge to break out the truest sign of summer: flip-flops. Here's why you should reserve your flip-flops only for the beach, pool, spa, and shared showers, according to Dr. Jackie Sutera, DPM, a podiatrist and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association.
1. They expose your feet to bacteria, viral, and fungal infections. With wearing of flip flops, your feet get particularly filthy and they're likely covered in some nasty things likes Staphylococcus, or Streptococcus or worse. Athletes foot fungus and the virus that causes warts also find your feet a lovely place to reside.
2. They slow you down. An Auburn University study found that flip-flop wearers take smaller steps than people who wear sneakers.
3. They make you extra clumsy. Those short strides you take when you wear flip-flops? They increase your risk of tripping (or being trampled in a crowd).
4. They destroy your heels. Because your heels hit the ground with more force when there's nothing but a thin piece of foam separating your foot from the ground, walking in flip-flops accentuates the heel-strike impact, which could end up causing pain — especially if you stand or walk in them for extended periods of time.
5. They can cause blisters. When a thin strap between your 1st and 2nd toe is the only thing that holds your shoe on, that strap rubs up against your skin every time you take a step. This can cause irritation and blisters. When blisters pop, you're left with an open wound that makes you more vulnerable to the germs you pick up anytime your foot is exposed.
6. They can permanently damage your toes. When you wear flip-flops, your toes need to work extra hard to grip the shoe and keep it on your foot, which can cause hammertoes over time (when the knuckles of your toes stick up). If you want to avoid stiffness, pain, and potentially, surgery, stick with sandals with a thick strap at the midfoot, and one that goes behind your ankle.
7. They mess with your posture. Any super-flat shoe that doesn't bend like your foot does when you walk barefoot alters your biomechanics and can affect your posture.
8. They can cause shooting pains. People with flat feet need arch support to keep their knees, hips, and back aligned. In a flat shoe, there's none of that, so your joints have to compensate. This can cause overuse injuries all the way up, including Achilles tendonitis, plantar heel pain, and pinched nerves in the back.
9. They can aggravate bunions. Because your toes have to work so hard to keep flip-flops on your feet, over-gripping can aggravate people with unsightly and painful bunions, a bump at the big toe joint. Not good.
10. They could be made of toxic materials. Plastic straps may be made of latex, which many people are allergic to, or plastic that contains BPA, a toxin linked to various cancers. Do you really want your toes to get all up in that? Opt for sandals with fabric or leather straps, because natural materials tend to be safer.
Still feel like such a flip-flop day? (Didn't think so.)
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