Skip the Flip! Part 1

           Everyone has heard that certain footwear can be damaging to your foot health, but that fact has always been associated with sky-high stilettos! However, recent research investigating flip-flops has uncovered evidence that may take away that spring in your step! Did you know that podiatrists have said flip-flops have been to blame for more health problems than any other type of shoes?! With warm weather fast approaching, you may want to rethink your choice summer footwear.

Health professionals have noticed that during the transition from summer to fall, they found an increase in patient complaints concerning lower leg pain. Incidentally, this pain seemed to coincide with a footwear change from flip-flops to athletic shoes related to the seasonal change.

            The typical American walks a total of 10,000 to 20,000 steps a day! So it is no wonder that small changes in walking patterns can quickly add up to significant injury!  Experimenters discovered that flip-flops actually alter the gait patterns in the individuals wearing them. It was found that this summer footwear lessens stride length and increases the ankle angle in individuals. (The ankle angle is the measurement between the top of the foot and anterior leg).The studies also showed that people wearing flip-flops exhibit a concern about hitting their toes when they swing their leg during gait.

Consider this: when walking in flip-flops you may have noticed that you try and keep the flip-flop on your foot so it does not launch into the air as leg sways forward. In addition, you also keep a watchful eye on your toes as your foot swings through so you do not stub them on the ground. In order to prevent the above two phenomena from occurring, you change the angle of your ankle during your stride in flip-flops.

Pain is not just confined to the lower leg region when you are wearing flip-flops. You may experience aches and pains in other body areas as well! The heel of your foot serves as a cushion for shock absorption. If the interface between the heel and the ground is not supported, then the heel will not absorb shock as well as it should and the foot will have to work harder! As a result of overworking your foot, knee, hip, and back problems can occur!

Central Florida Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.FLFootandAnkle.com