Do’s and Don’ts for Flip-Flop Fans
During the summer months, we know many of our patients at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle favor flip-flops as their first choice in footwear. It’s easy to see why they are popular—so quick to just slip on and go. Long term usage of traditional flip-flops, however, can cause foot pain and injuries such as:
Plantar fasciitis
Cuts and bruises
Hammertoes
This doesn’t mean you can’t ever wear them. You just should follow some guidelines aimed at protecting the health of your feet. See the do’s and don’ts below:
DO: wear flip-flops on pool days, at the beach, and in public places like nail salons, gyms, and dance studios. In these settings, flip-flops can actually protect your feet from coming in contact with germs, fungi, viruses, and bacteria that cause common infections like athlete’s foot, fungal toenails, and plantar warts. They will also keep feet from getting burned by hot sand and pavement.
DON’T: use flip-flops when you’re going to be running, playing a sport, hiking, or doing any type of strenuous physical activity. First of all, the difficulty in keeping them on your feet will slow you down. But more importantly, with total lack of side support, you’re likely to suffer an ankle-twisting injury if you’re moving quickly.
DON’T: put on someone else’s flip-flops, even for a few moments. This increases your risk of contracting fungal infections.
DO: look for flip-flops with improved design features like built-in arch support, thicker soles, and a more comfortable toe thong piece. Several manufacturers have caught on that these popular shoes need an upgrade.
DO: wash your feet after wearing flip-flops. While they protect the soles of your feet from touching the ground, the open design allows the rest of your feet to get very dirty.
DON’T: wear flip-flops if you have diabetes. The risk of injury is too great. Instead, find shower shoes or slip on water shoes that encompass your foot fully and are not completely flat.
DO: contact our Hudson office (727-868-2128 or 352 683-5799) for an appointment if you are currently experiencing discomfort from overuse of flip-flops or another reason. Our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, will examine your feet and ankles and determine what treatment is necessary to get you back to enjoying summer fun.