Flip Flops.
Patients often ask my opinion on flip flops. I love them, but they are awful for your feet. Let me tell you why:
Bacteria; one pair of flip flops can house 100's of thousands bacteria including Staphylococcus Aureus and fecal matter. (Ewwww)
They can cause a hammer toes and stress fractures due to gripping with the toes to keep the flip flops in place and repetitive trauma without shock absorption. They can also exacerbate bunions.
Blisters can form between the toes due to chronic rubbing of the plastic strap in the interspace
Been dealing with plantar fasciitis? Those flip flops could be making it worse by allowing the foot to repeatedly lift and drop onto the back of the shoe. Also without a supportive arch, you could be flattening the arch and causing the foot to over pronate (foot arch height drop and foot turn outward)
Flip flops are a staple of the Spring and Summer but make sure that you are making the best decision for your feet.
