Are Those Flip Flops Damaging Your Feet and Legs?
Posted: Monday, June 02, 2008
by Laura Trahan
It is summer in Houston and the flip flops are everywhere. Who am I kidding? The flip flops were out in spring. Flip flops have become a fashion staple and for us who wear them religiously the latest news will be detrimental. Brace yourself if you are a flip flop lover. A new study released showed that flip flops may throw off your stride and cause pain in your lower legs and feet.
On another day, the same participants walked across the platform wearing their own athletic shoes. The platform measured stride length and the vertical force at which the walkers' feet hit the ground.
The findings: When participants wore flip-flops, they took shorter strides and their heels hit the ground with less vertical force than when they wore their sneakers.
So what is a flip flop lover to do? I have to admit, I have been a flip flop junkie since college. They are easy and fast. They can be dressy or casual whichever is the need. When I first heard of this report, I have to admit I felt a little betrayed by my flip flop.
My flip flops are designed to make my life easier, not cause me pain. Say it isn't so researchers. Then I went through the denial stage citing that it is an Alabama study after all. How much do they know about flip flops anyway?
Yes, I know they have beaches and big cities, but let me pretend for a minute. I can't tell you how many pairs I own and to say that they could be what was causing the pain in my feet in legs is absurd. I like my first rationalization for the pain-the exercise I am doing.
However, according to some of the researchers flip flops were never meant for extensive daily walking. Especially the kind of walking where you wake up in the morning and put them on and don't take them off until you are home at night.
Apparently, people wear the wrong type of shoes all the time. Walking shoes are actually supposed to be worn when doing extensive walking. Athletic shoes are supposed to be worn during sporting activities. Who knew?
What does this mean for flip flop lovers? Well the findings from the study suggest that if you are experiencing pain in your legs and feet, limit the amount of use of the flip flops.
Also, just like regular shoes, flip flops should be replaced every three to four months. Not sure what that means for my favorite pair of flip flops that I have had since my first year of college. I think they might have to come pry them from my dead, cold fingers.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)They are everywhere, Laura! I was looking for some sandals at a local shoe store over the weekend and found very few. They did have a whole wall of flip-flops.I know. I used to try and stock up at the end of the season when they were on sale. Now it seems there is never an end to the season!
Hi Laura, I guess I don't have to worry, I hate flip flops!! I can't stand anything between my toes. Brittany loves flip flops and wears them everywhere except work. I'll have to forward this article to her. Like you, I don't think it will deter her in anyway. Thanks for this info. Have a great week!Thanks Teresa for the comment! We will have to work on your distaste in flip flops! ;)
hi laura, this was a great article. i love the tone of humor you always carry through in your articles. i don't like anything between my toes either, so i buy the ones without the thongs. my back and feet hurt anyway. thanks for sharing, best regards, sueThanks Sue for such kind words as always! The thongs do take some getting used to, but the other kinds are just as useful! Thanks for commenting!
At first I freaked out when I read the title of this article. I thought it was going to be another flip flip bashing article here on SearchWarp. I'm glad that you're not a flip flop hater, Laura :) I LOVE flip flops and won't hear anything negative about them. You're right, what do Alabamans know about flip flops? Should ask the Hawaiians. They have been wearing flip flops for generations. If they were really that bad, they would have stopped wearing them a long time ago.Amen Aiden! Thanks for backing me up and commenting!!!
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