Flip-flops can feel comfy when it’s warm weather, but medics say they are not perfect for our feet.
Don’t spend all day in them, particularly if you have foot problems, which can range from fallen arches to toe clawing.
You can check whether they work for your feet or not by standing on a towel with wet feet.
“If the footprint is really wide across the towel, you have a foot problem,” says orthopaedic surgeon and author Dr Michael Lehnert.
That might be a sign of splayfoot, where the transverse arch of the foot drops and the metatarsal bones spread apart, making the front part of the foot wider.
If you spend a lot of time wearing flip-flops, any foot misalignment you have is likely to worsen.
The main problem is that flip-flops have no lateral support, i.e. on the sides, which can mean your feet spread wider.
Over time, the strain shifts increasingly “to areas of the sole of the foot that are not suited to it”, says Dr Lehnert.
This can result in pain and nerve irritation, and even numb toes.
It also promotes the development of hallux valgus, commonly known as a bunion.
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He says from an orthopaedic perspective, flip-flops have two further disadvantages.
Many only have a thin, flat sole, meaning there is no arch support to relieve pressure on the foot and strengthen its muscles.
And: “To stop the flip-flops coming off whilst walking, you have to grip them a bit with your toes,” he says.
That means your toes tense up, which can also lead to pain in the long run.
ALSO READ: Do my toes look weird?
Although flip-flops aren’t ideal for your feet, you need not stop wearing them entirely, says Dr Lehnert.
Wear them in moderation, “not eight or 10 hours a day” is his advice.
When you buy a new pair, perhaps for a holiday, ideally break them in for an hour at home first.
ALSO READ: 3 way to find the best shoes for healthy feet
Another way you can help your feet at any time of the year is regular exercise.
Lay a towel on the floor and pull it towards you with your toes, Dr Lehnert suggests.
This exercise works the many small muscles in the foot, and thus contributes to its stability.
Another way to help the small muscles in your feet is to “walk barefoot a bit more, at home, but also outside, for example, in sand”, he says. – dpa
