Flip-Flops: Not Worth the Risk? : PCM Lifestyle

(PCM) While it?s tempting to live in your favorite pair of flip-flops all summer long, it?s not the best idea as far as support goes. 78% of adults 21 and older have experienced one or more foot problems in their lives, according to the National Foot Health Assessment 2012, and flip-flops are a common culprit!

As easy and as comfortable as they may feel, it turns out your flip-flops could actually be causing damage. Flimsy flip-flops have no heel support or structural support, and they don?t do much to help absorb shock. According to Bob Thompson, executive director for the Institute for Preventive Foot Health, the way your feet are positioned when your foot strikes the ground (or even when you?re standing still) provides the foundation for the body?s skeletal alignment. Even slight shifts in stance, from lack of arch support found in flip-flops, can lead to misalignment over time, causing pain in the knees, hips and back.

In addition to lack of support, flip-flops force your foot to act in an unnatural manor. ?You?re taking your five toes and grabbing your shoe to make sure it doesn?t slide out,? Thompson tells CNN. ?That action of the toes grabbing the shoe on the toe box is not normal.? Without anything to keep the foot in place, Thompson adds, flip-flops can lead to tumbles, twisted ankles and even broken bones.

It?s okay to throw on a pair of flip-flops to take out the trash or walk down to the beach, but you don?t want to wear flip-flops all day every day. Overtime, frequent flip-flop use can lead to common foot problems, and even more serious health concerns for some. For people who have poor circulation and feeling in their feet, like those with diabetes, wearing flip-flops can cause not only injury but infection, as well. There?s also more of a risk for those suffering from obesity, as the unstructured shoe can add excess strain to feet that are already stressed from the extra weight.

Sure, flip-flops may be the easiest pair of shoes ? if you can even call them that ? to slip on in the summer, but are they worth the cost? Skip the cheap, flimsy flip-flops and invest in a high-quality pair of sandals. Your feel will thank you!

Related:
Are Your Shoes Sabatoging Your Job Interviews?

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Source: http://pcmlifestyle.com/2012/07/flip-flops-not-worth-the-risk/

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