Flip-flops seem to have taken over as the choice of shoe for many people this summer. But are they really the best choice for the health of your feet?
Wearing flip-flops alters the way people walk, changing their gait in subtle ways that can lead to serious problems. When you walk in flip-flops, you have to scrunch up your toes to keep the flip-flops on your feet when the heel lifts up in the air. This motion stresses the plantar fascia, the tough band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot supporting the arch, changing the biomechanics of your foot. Poor foot motion and incorrect biomechanics of the foot are a major contribution to many common ankle, knee, hip and back problems.
No matter what type of shoe you wear (but especially those who wear flip-flops), I recommend and regularly adjust my clients’ feet for improved health. Chiropractic adjustments to the feet can additionally help restore and improve the inner joint motion of the foot improving proprioception, steadiness and reaction time of everyone from athletes to the elderly.