Monday, April 2, 2012

Pitfalls of Flip Flops


After long winters of our toes and feet buried in boots, people can’t wait to bust out their flip flops. They have become a summer staple in many wardrobes. As soon as the weather slightly turns, Chicagoans will wear long sleeve shirts or hooded sweatshirts, jeans, and flip flops.

Flip flops are not all fun and sturdy. Some can cause injuries and pain if not made from the right materials. Before purchasing your next pair of flip flops, review my Summer Flip Flops blog.

Many people visit my office during the spring and summer months due to injuries from flip flops. Here are some dangers of prolonged flip flop wear:

  • Shin splints are caused by the lack of support which leads to pain in the tendons alongside the shin. 
  • Changing one’s walk. Cheap flip flops force pressure to be placed on the outside of the foot instead of the heal, which makes one change the way they walk.
  • Tripping and falling can cause broken arms or wrists.
  • Twisted ankles can occur when feet roll from the outside inwards.
  • Painful scrunched toes from gripping the thong of the flip flop to keep it in place when walking.
  • Stubbed toes, usually happening in the little toe, can cause a break or dislocation.
  • Blisters occur from rubbing and pressure from the thong at the front of the flip flop.
  • Joint pain.

What brands of flip flops do you prefer?

Have you been injured due to flip flops?


Image by michellelynnegoodfellow. (2012). Purple Flip-flops. Flickr. Retrieved from http://www.flickr.com/photos/16993421@N07/7014009891/

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