Is the use of this popular summer footwear causing foot, ankle or even knee pain?
By Dr. Chad M. Pens Now that summer is officially here, many of you will be wearing your sandals more frequently. When it comes to simplicity, style, and allowing the feet to be cool, the “flip flop” is usually a popular choice. Although flip flops may look good, they are not very good for your feet. There are a number of orthopedic overuse issues that can arise due to frequent use of this type of footwear. The problems flip flops present are the lack of support to the arches of the foot, they lack of proper cushioning, and they change the way people walk.. A recent study out of the University of Auburn Department of Kinesiology, and presented at the annual American College of Sports Medicine meeting in 2008, revealed that individuals wearing flip flop sandals demonstrated a decreased stride length, an inefficient gait (walking) pattern, and a decrease in vertical force at heel strike. These lower forces noted at heel strike are directly associated with a shorter stride length. The act
