Flip-Flops Be Gone! Give Your Feet a Break!
Flip-Flops Are OK in Moderation, but Wearing Them Too Often Can Prove to Have Adverse Long-Term Effects Aug. 22, 2007
They say that beauty comes at a price, and this summer, our feet are the victims. As flip-flops become more popular, so too do the long- and short-term health problems that come with them.
"Flip-flops have singlehandedly caused more problems with people's feet in the last couple years than probably any other type of shoe," said Dr. Rock Positano, a podiatrist at New York's Hospital for Special Surgery.
Lori Geller broke her ankle wearing flip-flops. "The ground was wet, so my foot slipped off and turned."
Geller is certainly not alone.
"I was at the supermarket, and I slipped in my flip-flops on cottage cheese and really hurt myself," said Tiffany Andreade of an embarrassing fall.
These women and others may be heading feet first into a world of short- and long-term foot problems. Positano sees about five to 10 flip-flop related injuries a week -- injuries he believes are a direct result of women wearing flip-flops in place of normal walking shoes.
"The problem with this is absolutely no support … the foot is able to go in any direction it wants to go in, and it directly impairs the ability of the foot to function as a shock absorbing part of the body," Positano explained.
Flip-flops present long-term health problems, too. Laura DePrizio had struggled with a nerve problem in her foot, but she had gotten it under control before this summer.
She couldn't believe her ears when Positano told her the culprit for the return of her problems was her flip-flops.
"It had to be the gym, it had to be the running, it had to be something other than the flip-flop. It just didn't seem that it would be such a problem," DePrizio said.
In addition to aggravating old problems, people with flat feet or high arches can also do long-term, serious damage by wearing flip-flops.
"These foot types normally will predispose a person to developing problems with their tendons with joint stability," Positano said. "And long term there is always the possibility of developing chronic tendinitis or overuse injuries not only in the ankle but also the knee, the hip and the back."
Positano said that in moderation, flip-flops are fine. The problems arise when people wear them for long periods and long distances at a time.
He also warned that it's not safe to wear flip-flops while driving, as they are not anchored to the feet and can get lodged under the gas pedal or brake.
"Basically this is no better than walking on a rubber band," Positano quipped.
Personally I've never really liked the fact that these things somehow went from beach/shower/pool wear to everyday wear. As an unnamed SDNer said, "I disliked it simply due to it being stupid and aesthetically offensive." And that's largely why I didn't like them, too.
Now it seems there's a real valid reason to dislike them in the everyday wear that they've somehow become. Makes me feel better about it now.
"How can I wait unknowing?
This is the price of war,
We rise with noble intentions,
And we risk all that is pure..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, Forever (Rome: Total War)
"On and on, through the years,
The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
The fact that people wear flip-flops anywhere but around the house boggles me. They just never seemed comfortable enough to wear anywhere but for short jaunts outside when I'm too lazy to put on my shoes.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
While I don't wear flip-flops often enough for me to really worry about the health of my feet being adversely affected, I have to say that the flip-flops I have are as comfortable as hell! I can walk with these things for hours!
I hate flip-flops, though it may just be because my feet are at a weird size where nothing really fits perfectly. All the flip-flops I wear are either slightly too big, so I have to clutch them with my toes to walk, or they're so small that I feel like I'll be leaving a few toes behind while I'm walking.
so, basically flip-flops are bad because people are stupid. When they get wet there is no traction, so of course your foot is going to come out of them.
Since when are shoes considered good anyways? For myself, even the most ventalated tennis shoe causes me to get trench foot because of how much my feet sweat.
However, the flip flops I have, which have rubber "studs" for lack of a better term, for an insole, not only keep me from getting said trench foot, but now my feet are a lot tougher than they were ever before. With the additional benifit of being no-slip.
People do not 'need' shoes, the foot itself can become as hard as 'shoe leather' if all one does is walk barefoot.
Zwinmar wrote:so, basically flip-flops are bad because people are stupid. When they get wet there is no traction, so of course your foot is going to come out of them.
Since when are shoes considered good anyways? For myself, even the most ventalated tennis shoe causes me to get trench foot because of how much my feet sweat.
However, the flip flops I have, which have rubber "studs" for lack of a better term, for an insole, not only keep me from getting said trench foot, but now my feet are a lot tougher than they were ever before. With the additional benifit of being no-slip.
People do not 'need' shoes, the foot itself can become as hard as 'shoe leather' if all one does is walk barefoot.
I'd rather not walk barefoot wherever I go. Shoes were invented so people wouldn't have to go through the discomfort/pain of walking on their own flesh and bone.
chitoryu12 wrote:
I'd rather not walk barefoot wherever I go. Shoes were invented so people wouldn't have to go through the discomfort/pain of walking on their own flesh and bone.
Oh come on, there is NO WAY kids are this pampered now days, it hurts to walk barefoot? Really? Wow. Sure, it's pretty trashy and most normal people don't in public, but if it hurts you have problems.
As for flip-flops, we backwards-ass savages on that island in the middle of nowhere called australia have known this for years, so this story is hilarious
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” - Oscar Wilde.
chitoryu12 wrote:
I'd rather not walk barefoot wherever I go. Shoes were invented so people wouldn't have to go through the discomfort/pain of walking on their own flesh and bone.
Oh come on, there is NO WAY kids are this pampered now days, it hurts to walk barefoot? Really? Wow. Sure, it's pretty trashy and most normal people don't in public, but if it hurts you have problems.
As for flip-flops, we backwards-ass savages on that island in the middle of nowhere called australia have known this for years, so this story is hilarious
WTF are you talking about?
You are advocating walking barefoot everywhere, he disagrees. And yes flip-flops are useful for running outside to take out trash or whatnot, because frankly there are a lot of things I don't want touching my feet.
Now if you think walking everywhere barefoot is a good idea, you don't do enough walking yourself.
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Civil War Man wrote:Did anyone else see the title and think "politicians that frequently and arbitrarily change their position on issues die younger"?
I did, especially since over here they're called "thongs". But yeah, in Australia we've known about this for years. It doesn't stop us from wearing them, but we know the risks.
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Stark wrote:Americans learning shit other people learnt ages ago? Hilarious!
Next you'll be saying ugg boots can get damp and fuck up your feet!
And yet, Aussie women are the worst offenders when it comes to thinking flip-flops (or as we call them, thongs) are somehow acceptable footwear outside of the fucking beach. Luckily not all Aussie women, a lot of girls I know wrinkle their nose and roll their eyes at the sight of it, but I remember an article in the Telegraph saying how women were starting to wear them around the fucking office, that particular Brazilian brand, which is el cheapo beachwear shit in Brazil, yet somehow oh so chic here.
I just don't get it. Flip-flops make girls walk like ducks and they look stupid. Why would you want to wear them? Wear sneakers, ballet flats, anything else.
I'm barefoot inside the house constantly - I hate wearing shoes in the hosue, but outside it's sneaker time.
You are advocating walking barefoot everywhere, he disagrees. And yes flip-flops are useful for running outside to take out trash or whatnot, because frankly there are a lot of things I don't want touching my feet.
Now if you think walking everywhere barefoot is a good idea, you don't do enough walking yourself.
Grats on reading comprehension? "most normal people don't in public", why don't you point out where I advocated walking around barefoot everywhere. I'm simply saying that it really should not HURT to walk barefoot, and if it does his feet are fucked up. He makes it sound like it's some horrible torture to walk on "your own flesh and bone". But by all means don't let what I actually said get in the way of what you wanted to reply to.
“Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” - Oscar Wilde.
Resinence wrote:
Grats on reading comprehension? "most normal people don't in public", why don't you point out where I advocated walking around barefoot everywhere. I'm simply saying that it really should not HURT to walk barefoot, and if it does his feet are fucked up. He makes it sound like it's some horrible torture to walk on "your own flesh and bone". But by all means don't let what I actually said get in the way of what you wanted to reply to.
Ever tried walking on a sidewalk barefoot when it's 90+ degrees outside? Unless the weather is relatively mild walking around outside barefoot isn't exactly comfortable.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
Stark wrote:Americans learning shit other people learnt ages ago? Hilarious!
Next you'll be saying ugg boots can get damp and fuck up your feet!
And yet, Aussie women are the worst offenders when it comes to thinking flip-flops (or as we call them, thongs) are somehow acceptable footwear outside of the fucking beach. Luckily not all Aussie women, a lot of girls I know wrinkle their nose and roll their eyes at the sight of it, but I remember an article in the Telegraph saying how women were starting to wear them around the fucking office, that particular Brazilian brand, which is el cheapo beachwear shit in Brazil, yet somehow oh so chic here.
Clearly you've never seen the glory that is the outer at a Port Adelaide home game. My dad and sister went there, and about half the crowd (it was Port, so they were all bogans) were wearing thongs. In winter. At Footy Park. While it was raining.
"I would say that the above post is off-topic, except that I'm not sure what the topic of this thread is, and I don't think anybody else is sure either."
- Darth Wong Free Durian - Last updated 27 Dec
"Why does it look like you are in China or something?" - havokeff
Vympel wrote:And yet, Aussie women are the worst offenders when it comes to thinking flip-flops (or as we call them, thongs) are somehow acceptable footwear outside of the fucking beach. Luckily not all Aussie women, a lot of girls I know wrinkle their nose and roll their eyes at the sight of it, but I remember an article in the Telegraph saying how women were starting to wear them around the fucking office, that particular Brazilian brand, which is el cheapo beachwear shit in Brazil, yet somehow oh so chic here.
I just don't get it. Flip-flops make girls walk like ducks and they look stupid. Why would you want to wear them? Wear sneakers, ballet flats, anything else.
I'm barefoot inside the house constantly - I hate wearing shoes in the hosue, but outside it's sneaker time.
You're in Sydney, right?
Man, Brisbane is fucking THONG CITY. In the city, the hip trendsters wear them (brand labels of course, lol); the outer city is full of even HIPPER trendsters wearing them (aforementioned import rubbish), and the suburbs are full of BOGANS wearing them (good old Dunlops lol). I don't even OWN any, and sometimes I feel like truly a stranger in a strange land.
Vympel wrote:And yet, Aussie women are the worst offenders when it comes to thinking flip-flops (or as we call them, thongs) are somehow acceptable footwear outside of the fucking beach. Luckily not all Aussie women, a lot of girls I know wrinkle their nose and roll their eyes at the sight of it, but I remember an article in the Telegraph saying how women were starting to wear them around the fucking office, that particular Brazilian brand, which is el cheapo beachwear shit in Brazil, yet somehow oh so chic here.
I just don't get it. Flip-flops make girls walk like ducks and they look stupid. Why would you want to wear them? Wear sneakers, ballet flats, anything else.
I'm barefoot inside the house constantly - I hate wearing shoes in the hosue, but outside it's sneaker time.
You're in Sydney, right?
Man, Brisbane is fucking THONG CITY. In the city, the hip trendsters wear them (brand labels of course, lol); the outer city is full of even HIPPER trendsters wearing them (aforementioned import rubbish), and the suburbs are full of BOGANS wearing them (good old Dunlops lol). I don't even OWN any, and sometimes I feel like truly a stranger in a strange land.
It's about that bad here in the States. I've seen people wear them to church (regular church), weddings, school, work, out and about, in nice restaurant, and when meeting the President.
(there was a thread about that, but I can't find it. )
It's crazy though. When did these cheap little pieces of styrofoam become everyday wear? I also never got those platform flipflops either. Really, how the girls I saw wearing those things didn't break their ankle every day I will never know.
"How can I wait unknowing?
This is the price of war,
We rise with noble intentions,
And we risk all that is pure..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, Forever (Rome: Total War)
"On and on, through the years,
The war continues on..." - Angela & Jeff van Dyck, We Are All One (Medieval 2: Total War)
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." - Ambrose Redmoon
"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." - Harvey Dent, The Dark Knight
Zwinmar wrote:Since when are shoes considered good anyways? For myself, even the most ventalated tennis shoe causes me to get trench foot because of how much my feet sweat.
However, the flip flops I have, which have rubber "studs" for lack of a better term, for an insole, not only keep me from getting said trench foot, but now my feet are a lot tougher than they were ever before. With the additional benifit of being no-slip.
Since when are the choices full on shoes or flip-flops, ever heard of tevas, or any other kind of sandals for that matter?
People do not 'need' shoes, the foot itself can become as hard as 'shoe leather' if all one does is walk barefoot.
So are flip-flops worse than high heels now? Because I see
"Flip-flops have singlehandedly caused more problems with people's feet in the last couple years than probably any other type of shoe,"
and I wonder if there's not some exaggeration involved for the sake of a story, considering how messed up people's feet can get from years of wearing heels.
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General Zod wrote:Ever tried walking on a sidewalk barefoot when it's 90+ degrees outside?
People in Australia do this all the time. In the parts of Queensland where I lived, it was the done thing to walk around in bare feet, and 32 degrees Celsius is the lowest it ever gets to in that God forsaken wasteland.
General Zod wrote:Ever tried walking on a sidewalk barefoot when it's 90+ degrees outside?
People in Australia do this all the time. In the parts of Queensland where I lived, it was the done thing to walk around in bare feet, and 32 degrees Celsius is the lowest it ever gets to in that God forsaken wasteland.
It boggles me. I tried walking on the sidewalks barefoot in Denver before when it was 100+ and it was so fucking hot I could barely tolerate it.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
General Zod wrote:It boggles me. I tried walking on the sidewalks barefoot in Denver before when it was 100+ and it was so fucking hot I could barely tolerate it.
Well, maybe you're just a pussy, ever thought of that?
Anyway, I do find it odd that they are claiming flip-flops are worse than high heels. Hell, if you look at most pairs of high heels, they basically ARE flip-flops, just with a heel attached (there are some heels that are more like shoes or boots, even, but a lot of them are more slipper-like or high heel-like). Logically it would seem that they are worse.
Ziggy Stardust wrote:
Anyway, I do find it odd that they are claiming flip-flops are worse than high heels. Hell, if you look at most pairs of high heels, they basically ARE flip-flops, just with a heel attached (there are some heels that are more like shoes or boots, even, but a lot of them are more slipper-like or high heel-like). Logically it would seem that they are worse.
Heels elevate your ankles and put more stress on specific parts of your foot. The only reason it seems that flip-flops are being called worse is because people are being dumbasses and wearing them everywhere.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
Flip-flops have two problems. The first is the "flip-floping" motion, which affects the way you walk and strains your foot and leg. I rather dislike it, which is why I haven't worn them since I was a young child, preferring sandals instead. The second problem is that they don't protect your foot very well. I read an article about a year ago about doctors and podiatrists seeing an increase in injuries that simply wouldn't have happened if the person had been wearing a shoe. I think that with those two things taken together they might cause more damage than any other shoe type, especially because people now wear flip-flops everywhere. However, I would still be inclined to believe that the sentence in the article is hyperbole. It would certainly be interesting to see some real data about the problems caused by wearing various different types of shoes, hopefully with clear definitions as to what means what, since some terms can be vague or specific depending on who you are talking to.
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