You may think you're doing your feet a favor by slipping on a pair of flip-flops, but it turns out the ubiquitous summer sandals are more perilous than they appear.In the U.K. alone, the National Health Service spends the equivalent of $62 million a year treating injuries, falls and long-term problems caused by the footwear, with over 200,000 people seeking medical treatment as a result of wearing the shoes.
Who knew getting flat-tired could be so dangerous?
Who knew getting flat-tired could be so dangerous?
Here comes the science: We walk differently in flip-flops than we do barefoot or in regular shoes. The pressure goes on the outside of the foot instead of the heel. Injuries from flip-flops range from everyday discomforts like lingering muscle and joint pain to shin splints and sprained/broken ankles and toes. Also -- embarrassing! -- fractured wrists and arms as the result of a nosedive.
In fact, doctors say flip-flops are just as bad for your hooves as stilettos, but actually cause more damage because they're worn for longer periods of time. Considering one in five women owns at least one pair of flip-flops, and 15 million people wear them per day in the summer, podiatrists must be enjoying the summer months even more than the rest of us.
And we thought the only damage from flip-flops involved scrubbing a day's worth of sidewalk grease off our feet every night.
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Thursday 29 July
By bob parks
Airports full of these moronic teenyboppers and twenty-somethings running around in their flip flops. They look like a bunch of sloppy BUMS.
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Thursday 29 July
By Bill
your kidding right?! they are the easiest thing to wear when flying into and out of good weather. they are easy to get on and off at the security stations. grow up!
Friday 30 July
By Breq
Great comment!!! Totally agree!!!! Bravo!!!!!
Saturday 31 July
By keneke
Wait a minute, I'm from Hawaii 50yr male, as part of the culture we have all been wearing "flip flops" aka slippas since we could walk, I wear them every chance I get. As a culture as a state even none of the reported problems mentioned here. Maybe if you didn't grow up wearing them/not use to them you might experience something like the above....As for the "bum's" comment that just your own culture and thoughts not to be confused with reality. FYI: there is more reported foot and other associated problems with people and cultures who wear shoes all the time then with cultures who don't. Unless you think you were born with shoes. So lets ban flip flops, shoes, how about autos and toasters, they all have killed......lets micro manage our whole world to death.
Thursday 29 July
By none
I've been wearing flip flops in the summer as long as they've been making them. So far, so good. BUT - I do see where this article is coming from. If you buy those $1.00 ones from the cheapie stores, my favorite places to shop, they'll come apart on you and you can actually HURT yourself. I nearly fell out the door one day this summer when the piece between the toes came out. Be careful going up and down steps if you do wear flip flops. I'm just waiting for my ER visit. Hope I get a cute doctor!
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Thursday 29 July
By artis123
Get some Sanuks. They're awesome.
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Friday 30 July
By Ginger
AMEN!!! I bought a pair last year and absolutely love them!!! Wish I knew who around here sold them. I bought them at an exclusive shoe store in another town.
Thursday 29 July
By Bryce
I've been wearing flip flops for most of my adult life (I'm 68) and have yet to experience any of the problems mentioned in the article. I usually try to get a decent pair (around $15.00) which have some thickness that will eventually mold to your feet. In fact, I don't know anyone who's had any problems in all my years in the tropics and elsewhere. Not exactly an empirical, scientific study, but IMHO the article is pure BS.
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Thursday 29 July
By Tina
I have to beg your differ... I have nerve damage in my lower leg from wearing flip flops between the toes!!! So they DO cause problems, just not with you!
Friday 30 July
By Frances
I am here to tell you that I've been told to stay out of my flip flops since I have had SEVERE foot and leg pain for the last year. I've lived in flip flops most of the last 30 years and I am now paying for doing just that. Not everyone will experience everything everyone else experiences. I have been wearing the shoes recommended by my doctor and amazed by the fact that they were correct in telling me to stop wearing the flip flops.
Thursday 29 July
By Candy
The worst danger I've from wearing flip flops for the last 40 years is that my dog likes to step on the back of them. At first I thought it was an accident until I turned around and he was doing the equivalent of a dog grin and wagging his tail.
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Friday 30 July
By chrissy
ARGH! and i thought it was only my dog. he likes to do it especially when i'm walking down the stairs. little troublemaker!
Thursday 29 July
By shelley axe
It's true what there saying. I have every color that you could possibly think of. They are comfortable. BUT they don't support your ankle's. I wear flip-flop's everyday even though they have no support. Their just so easy to get on and off. BUTI'll be walking along and all the sudden i'm tripping over my own feet. The front fold's under and i go forward almost falling & feeling like a idiot. But I haven't fell yet THANK GOD. Good reflex's I guess or it might be because I know what could happen I don't know. But I never really thought about it till I just read the article on AOL. So we all know we'll still wear them Right?
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Friday 30 July
By Vince
It's true what there saying.
Friday 30 July
By Tigger
Personally I can't stand the new any flip flop anytime anywhere attitude. There are two places for them at the beach and in a shower. Not church, court, school, job interview, a wedding, a funeral, etc. if you get my poInt. It seems that the uglier your feet are the more likely you are to own a closet full of these things. For a while it was just women and kids, and at least most women make the effort to keep their feet attractive. Now it is men and if you want to see a turnoff just look at some guys ugly feet with a tan line half way up their calf, and dog chewed old flip flops. I realize that all kinds of sandals are available but at least they're not making that smacking noise that is irritating. I know I have offended some people but if you see yourself in my rant, stop and think just what do my feet look like to someone else and am I gonna ruin someone's appetite right before lunch. I try not to look down but it's hard to explain why you tripped on the curb when it was because of someone else's flip flops.
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Thursday 29 July
By kwvhunter
The only thing uglier than a flip flop thong on a woman's foot is a woman's foot in a flip flop with toe rings, complete with sweat and grime collecting between the toe ring and toe. Well, throw in a hideous ankle tatoo to really make a woman's appearance absoutely cartoonish and disgusting.
Friday 30 July
By whtny41163
Well I go to church to worship God, not worry about whether or not you like the fact that I am wearing flip flops. I suggest you spend more time looking at the preacher, the hymnal, and your Bible, and less time looking at everyone else's feet.
Friday 30 July
By chrissy
omg tigger, are you from the 1940's or what? if your sensibilities are so delicate, i imagine skirts above the knee or men in short sleeves must send you into a panic too. i have to look at ugly faces all the time. no one i know would put a veil on so i don't have to look into their hairy nostrils or crooked teeth.
Wednesday 04 August
By chrissy
Actually my 23 year old feet are beautiful thanks :) And personally, I don't care whether my flip flops offend anyone or not. I like them, they match with virtually any casual attire, and to me they are comfortable. Did you get that part? To ME. So if you don't like to look at feet, then keep your eyes up. I'd be more concerned with the people who let their cracks hang out of pants, pants hang down, etc. Your comment is just absurd. I'm guessing you have ugly feet and are jealous that you can't wear them. Poor thing.
Friday 30 July
By davehma
This is just silly. Next they will be telling us it isn't safe to go bare footed. After all you could step on a stone and bruise you foot. Or you could step on something and sprain your ankel and in the process fall and break you wrist. We need all of these alarming stories to protect us from everything in life so we can live risk free. Yeah right!!!!
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