Summer’s most popular foot wear seems to be the flip flop. Flip flops are quick and easy to put on when running spur of the moment errands. Having so much open exposure helps keep your feet cool and some people just find them so comfortable. But most of us don’t realize the problems that come with wearing flip flops. Belmont Anderson Podiatry want to help all those flip flop wearers keep their feet from suffering future foot problems and to have healthy feet for years to come.
Flat Feet Can Causes Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendonitis
One big flaw with flip flops is that they keep your feel flat when walking. Flat feet can cause serious foot problems down the line, such as plantar fasciitis which causes the bottom of your foot tendons to become inflamed. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes for heel pain that can lead to foot surgery. Flat feet will also promote bad posture which in turn leads to pain in your heels and calf muscles. This will cause Achilles tendonitis which can pinch the nerves in your back and result in chronic back pain.
Flip Flops Are Bad for Your Feet & Can Cause Hammer Toe
Another problem that flip flops can cause is a condition known as hammer toe. When one walks around in flip flops, your toes will bend and cause them to work overtime in order to help keep the flip flops on. Hammertoe causes your toes to become stiffened and pain will set in. If the condition becomes serious, surgery will be needed to correct your toes knuckles.
Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria & Athlete’s Foot from Flip Flops
Flip flops not only effect you from the inside, they can hurt you on the outside. Yes you know that your feet are unprotected and if you trip or snag your foot on anything the foot will get hurt. But there are also many unseen problems. There are about 18,100 different kinds of bacteria that flip flops pick up that can be harmful to you. Some of the more serious of these bacteria is staphylococcus aureus, which is a bacterium that can be lead to death. Staphylococcus aureus caused by flip flops will be found on the skin. This bacterium causes little red sores that become swollen. The pus or other drainage that runs out of the sore will become painful and will need antibiotics to treat it. Some form of staphylococcus aureus are resistant to antibiotics making it very hard to treat. Untreated, it will lead to blood poisoning and then death. Fungi can also become a problem. Athlete’s foot is a fungus that is itchy and highly contagious. When wearing shoes that expose most of your foot it’s easy to pick up this fungus. Doctors warn if you wear flip flops often, soak them in bleach or spray them with a disinfectant regularly to prevent any harmful bacteria or fungi from getting on your shoes.
Foot Surgery & Treatment
Flip flops can become a problem to your health. Wearing flip flops to do a quick errand or even just something to slip on really quick, like taking the trash to the curb, is not going to become a problem to your feet. But for those who wear flip flops as daily footwear, you need to be aware of the potential health risks that it could cause. If you are experiencing foot pain or other foot and ankle problems, contact Belmont Anderson Podiatry for expert podiatry services.