Is the flip flop good for your feet?
Rebecca Nicholas, Doctor of Chiropractic, loves the summer months. She also knows the implications of wearing the wrong shoe wear including the flip flop on the human body.
This is an interesting topic…. you may be reading this and not even think that the flip flop is bad for you. Not only do you have to pinch or curl your toes to keep the shoes from flying off while walking, but you also actually shorten your stride for this purpose, which puts unusual strain on your feet, hips and lower back muscles. 
Your foot contacts the ground differently in flip-flops, too, with more pressure put on the outside edges and less on the heel. This causes a slight rotation of the lower portion of your leg, which in turn changes the angle of your pelvis and prompts increased torsion of the lower spine. When we curl our toes it prevents our ankle from moving as much, thus stiffening up our body. Such changes to your body mechanics can cause stiffness and pain upwards in the lumbar region, which may worsen over time. Knowing this, read below are some things to keep in mind the next time you slip on that flimsy footwear.
These shoes do have legitimate uses – for example, they’re great for public changing rooms and showers, and even for that quick trudge to the garden, or to the beach. But with their lack of arch support and thin, floppy rubber soles, they’re NOT made for long walks, any form of quick movement, or continuous use while shopping, visiting a theme park, or going anywhere where you’ll be on your feet for very long.
Do you suffer from any of the following..
- iliotibial band (ITB) friction syndrome
- plantar fasciitis
- lower extremity pain inc ankle and knee pain
then think again about wearing those flip flops in the summer months and come to the clinic for a complimentary flip flop check. This is where your chiropractors can do a min of 3 quick tests to measure the function of your foot and lower body, and judge whether it is working well enough to support the use of flip flops. Call us on 01273 206868.