With the summer months rapidly approaching, we are about to see an influx of sandals and flip flops. This happens to also be the busiest time of year for your local podiatrist! When it comes to summer shoes, the majority of people go for looks and ease rather than support. Whether you are going to the beach or simply heading to the grocery store, take a second to evaluate the sandals and flip flops you are wearing.
When your feet lack the support they need, they tend to remind you that they are not happy. The most crucial part of any flip flop and/or sandal is the arch support. When you walk without the proper support, your arches flatten out causing abnormal stress and strain on multiple tendons, ligaments and joints in your feet. This can almost assuredly cause pain in your arch, heel or ankle. Long term consequences to poor shoes could be arthritic changes due to the improper alignment of the joints in your foot or ankle.
If you decide to avoid sneakers during your summer adventures, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind if you are going to wear flip flops or sandals. First, be sure to find a sandal that has a strap that goes around the back of your heel. Sandals without this extra strap tend to be less supportive and more hazardous to your feet. Second, be sure to find a sandal that has a solid arch built into it. Lastly, be sure that your sandals are made of a solid material, not just rubber. If you are looking for some advice on supportive sandals, you’ve come to the right place. Sandals that can be found to have solid support are Naot, Birkenstocks, Orthaheel, Vionics, Alivio & Kloggs. The last two, Alivio and Kloggs are special in the fact that if you already have a pair of custom orthotics they can actually fit in the sandal!
So, if you or a loved one is dealing with foot or ankle pains during the summer months, call us at Healthy Feet Podiatry so we can get you back on track.