Are Flip Flops Good For Your Feet, or Just a Flop?

CBS News ran an article today in the Health Pop section of their website. The article addressed the fact that flip flops, as great as they might be for summer weather, can cause a lot of foot issues for certain foot types. These problems will particularly affect people that have high or low arches. In the article this foot type is referred to as one that is not balanced.

The majority of flip flops that are sold today offer no arch support at all. As a result, if you use flip flops when you are doing anything more than leisurely hanging out with friends, you can end up doing more harm to your foot that you imagine. Most shoes have a good arch support that stabilizes your foot while you are jumping, running, walking, or any other movement you can think of. As we get older, our feet tend to flatten out naturally as a result of aging, less ability to heal or due to becoming overweight. When your body becomes heavier, your foot will flatten out as a result of a greater amount of force on them. There are some sandals that actually do offer a greater amount of support. These sandals are ones that naturally have an arch support built into them.

For patients that have a flat foot type it is best for them to wear a sneaker that will provide them with an arch support. Depending upon how flat your foot is, you may need a greater amount of support that come in the form of an orthoses. Orthoses are inserts that are put in your shoe and can be used to move your foot into a better position allowing your foot to move through the motions needed for walking. By correcting the foot position, it will help to prevent the pain that you are experiencing while walking.

If you or someone that you know struggles with flat feet and is experiencing pain as a result, our office staff would be more than happy to help you set up an appointment. Through casting your foot and performing a biomechanical exam, Dr. Wachtel will be able to help you find the proper type of orthoses to help your foot type. Our offices serve people that live in the Bradford, Methuen, Lowell and North Andover, Massachusetts area.