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Podiatrist - Cromwell
162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416

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Posts for tag: flip flops

By Feet First Foot Care Specialists, LLC
July 13, 2020
Category: shoes

You may not want to hear this: flip-flops are really bad for your feet! At Feet First Foot Care Specialists, we know for many of our Middlesex County patients, flip-flops are the footwear of choice, especially during the summer months. What could possibly be the harm in these oh so easy to wear summer favorites? Below are five reasons why flip-flops are really just a flop: 

  1. Increased risk of hammertoes. Think about what your toes have to do to keep your flip-flops on. They have to grab the front of the shoe to keep your foot from slipping off. This action, repeated over a long period can cause your toes to start to deform into the characteristic hammer shape, causing pain and disability.
  2. Most likely to contract a foot infection. The majority of fungal, viral, and bacterial foot infections are spread by coming in direct contact with them. Ever notice how dirty your feet are after wearing flip-flops? They provide no protection from coming in contact with the sources of athlete’s foot, warts, fungal toenails and the potentially more serious staph infection. Chances are even higher if you have any cuts or open sores.
  3. Hello injuries! The complete lack of structure of a traditional flip-flop, combined with the extra effort to keep them on your feet, means you have a much higher chance of twisting an ankle, falling, or crashing into a hard or sharp object that can cut or bruise your foot.
  4. Your heels say “ouch!” With only a thin piece of foam or rubber separating your heel from the ground, you subject this part of your foot to an excessive amount of impact and pressure. This in turn can lead to sore heels. In addition, the complete lack of arch support invites inflammation of the plantar fascia—another source of heel pain.
  5. You burn fewer calories. Flip-flops slow you down. You can’t walk at any kind of pace safely and consistently. One study actually found that flip-flop wearers take smaller steps than people who are wearing sneakers.

If you still can’t bear to part with your flip-flops, at least look into purchasing a pair that has some design and construction improvements for the health of your feet. Several companies have begun producing flip-flops with better arch support and cushioning that can help mitigate some of the negative factors of this type of shoe. If you are currently experiencing foot or heel pain (whether from overuse of flip-flops or another reason), contact our Cromwell office by calling (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist, Dr. Adam Mucinskas, can examine your feet and diagnose the source of your discomfort.




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162 West St Ste K
Cromwell, CT 06416