In the June 2009 issue of Fitness Magazine, IBJI podiatrist Megan Leahy provided guidance on summertime footwear.
In the magazine’s “Health Q&A” column, she answers the question “Can flip-flops damage my feet?” According to Dr. Leahy, the answer is yes.
“Any shoe that makes the telltale flip, flip, flip sound is letting you know that injury is almost inevitable. Flip-flops don’t properly support your arches, and they strain your toes by keeping them in constant grip mode. ‘Even a slight misstep can lead to a fracture or sprain, and if you wear them for more than two hours a day, tendinitis, fasciitis and myositis – all painful foot injuries – are a real possibility,’ says Megan Leahy, D.P.M, a podiatrist in Chicago. It’s best to save your flip-flops for the beach, the locker room or a backyard barbecue or for when you know you’ll be treading flat terrain for less than two hours.” (Fitness Magazine, June 2009 Issue, page 104)
