A flip-flop injury can last up to two years depending on the type of ailment.

Almost everyone’s wardrobes contain at least one pair of flip-flops. These footwear wonders are versatile in style, work on many different occasions and are affordable.

But, very few people truly know the dangers that lie beneath their feet when wearing flip-flops. Such dangers range from short term ailments to serious, long-term effects.

Kathleen Lendosky, a registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee, highlights the negative aspects of flip-flops. She says they “offer no structural support for the foot, arch or balance. Pain can occur after two weeks of wearing the flip-flops.”

Lendosky goes on to explain that, along with such pain, swelling and inflammation can also occur. In turn, additional areas of the body can be thrown out. It is possible to injure one’s back and opposite hip or foot due to compensation if the injury occurs in either one or both feet.

A flip-flop injury can last up to two years depending on the type of ailment. For example, a longer recovery would be needed if a tendon was torn. A tendon tear occurs because of the lack of support, and such an injury may require surgery.

“Bunions can form later in life due to the inability of the bones to be able to move about in the foot, and jam up below the ankle and push the great toe joint forward,” Lendosky says.

Other conditions include, but are not limited to, chronic tendonitis, shin splints, sprains, strains, joint pains or even broken bones.

In an interview with ABC News in 2007, Dr. Michael Loshigian, a podiatrist and foot surgeon at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center, discussed the harm of flip-flops not worn in moderation.

“In people, especially those who have sensitive skin or circulatory conditions and conditions such as diabetes that make their feet more prone to injuries and infections, this can be a point of irritation that can lead to infection,” said Loshigian.

One overlooked aspect of the sandal is the thong that goes between the toes. This can be a problem in and of itself.

Flip flops can be worn for simple activities, such as by the pool side, in shower rooms or short walking distances, preferably flat surfaces. When involved in more strenuous activities, terrains or time periods, one must put their foot down and opt for the more stable shoe.

They are trendy in appearance, easy to find, adaptable for each individual’s personal style and easy on the wallet, I can’t see the flip-flop going out of fashion any time soon. Yet the hope is not to eliminate these shoes.

The hope is that people will become more conscious about their decisions, choosing the practical footwear over the impractical. There is a time and place for everything, and every shoe.

> Comments