Flip-Flops: The Good, the Bad and The Ugly

At Goldsmith Podiatry, we want to not only treat our Manhattan patients’ foot problems, but we also want to help prevent them. If traditional flip-flops are your summertime footwear of choice, we want to sound a cautionary alarm about spending too many hours in this type of shoe. Below, is a review of the best practices for this seasonal favorite.

The Good: Flip-flops can provide a valuable service to your feet in specialized circumstances. In public places like community pools, nail salons, beach changing areas, and restrooms, flip-flops provide protection by keeping your feet from coming in contact with surfaces that may host fungi, bacteria, and viruses that can lead to foot infections. Keeping feet covered with these easy to slip on and off shoes can prevent athlete’s foot, warts, and fungal toenails. Flip-flops will also keep your feet safe from burns from hot pavement or scorching sand on your way to your beach blanket. Short stints in flip-flops in these settings are beneficial.

The Bad: Traditional flip-flops have a terrible design—actually, no design. The thin, flat layer of rubber or foam between your foot and the ground means the impact of every step is hitting the bottom of the foot with excessive force. They also have no arch support or any type of structure that keeps your foot in place,

The Ugly: What’s the result of long term, extended hours of wearing of flip-flops? It can lead to an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which ultimately results in sore, achy heels. Blisters can easily form from the rubber piece that rubs between your toes. The lack of any enclosing structure means cuts, injuries, and ankle sprains are high risk, especially if you wear flip-flops for more active pursuits or for walking throughout the day. Finally, the gripping motion necessary for your toes to keep flip-flops on can eventually increase your risk of developing hammertoes.

In the final analysis, it’s best to use flip flops only in limited circumstances and for short periods of time. If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort in your feet, contact our Upper West Side office by calling: (212) 877-1002 so that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith or Dr. Rosanna Troia can examine your feet and find the source of your foot pain.