Are flip-flops bad for your feet? (2024)

FAQs

Is it bad to wear flip-flops every day? ›

Still, even though flip-flops offer convenience and comfort, you don't want to wear them every day. Flip-flops are too delicate for heavy use, and they can't offer the support your feet need for daily life.

Flip-flops

“They're just not supportive,” says Dr. Armstrong. “Flip-flops cause a lot of stress and strain to our tissue that results in inflammation and pain in the feet.” The thin straps don't securely hold the shoes in place, so your tootsies have to compensate to keep the shoe moving with you (hello, hammer toe!).

Walking barefoot can be better than walking in ill-fitting shoes, high heels, or flimsy flip-flops but there are a host of dangers that walking barefoot can bring on, from stepping on glass to acquiring an infection. Flip-flops should not replace sturdier casual footwear even if they look fashionable.

Flip flops can also exacerbate other types of foot pain, from bunions and hammertoes to tendonitis. And since your feet aren't covered or well-protected, you're at greater risk for stubbed toes, cuts, insect bites and infection.

Cunha. “I typically advise my patients NOT to wear flip-flops for prolonged periods of time, as this particular shoe allows our foot to collapse affecting our gait and posture, which can lead to a tremendous amount of stress not only to the foot but to the rest of the body,” he said.

Comfortable Walking Sandals, According To A Podiatrist. From Birkenstocks to Aerosoles, these are the supportive sandals for women and men that an expert recommends. The Hoka Ora Recovery slide, Vionic Brielle sandal and Dansko season sandal.

For example, a person might wear a supportive pair of sandals that have a strap around the back of the foot. A person also might consider wearing espadrilles instead of flip-flops. These are essentially canvas shoes. The benefit is that, unlike flip flops, the feet need not scrunch up to keep the shoe on the foot.

"They're really good for if you have a flat foot or you have arch pain because they have a supportive longitudinal arch. But I would recommend them to most people — unless you have some kind of severe ailment that obviously needs a more personalized approach."

If you have any arch issues — like flat feet or arch pain — wearing flip-flops a lot will likely aggravate them. It's true: Your "flip-flop selection can cause your foot anatomy to worsen over the years," Dr. Kor says.

For decades, people have been challenging the status quo of wearing shoes. They say that walking barefoot, also known as “earthing” or “grounding,” connects them to nature, and they claim it leads to a myriad health benefits, such as reduced inflammation, pain and stress – even if strolling through concrete jungles.

Is it better to wear socks or go barefoot? ›

Walking barefoot at home for an extended amount of time can result in the development of foot deformities, this is from the imbalances in pressure that happen when you walk barefoot. Wearing socks at home alleviates this as it provides a cushion effect to improve your balance, when walking.

Sandals and Flip-Flops

“For someone who has arthritis, very flat and thin flip-flops provide very little support,” says Dr. Cerrato. “But there are some flip-flops that have a cup in the heel and a little more substance for shock absorption, and those do offer more support.”

Although the podiatric medical association doesn't discourage the wearing of these tiny treads, it warns that people with circulation issues or diabetes, who generally have poor feeling in their feet, should avoid flip-flops.

Generally, shoes that lace up are preferred over slip-ons because they provide better support and hold your foot in place to the sole of a shoe. Birkenstocks sandals, for example, have an arch but won't protect your feet as well as a tennis shoe or running shoe.

Constant gripping with your toes can cause tendonitis in your toes. This can be painful and lead to tears or ruptures of your tendons. Wearing flip-flips for too long can also cause bunions or hammertoes to develop. Hammertoe is a bending in the joints of your toes and can affect any toe except the big toe.

Your foot contacts the ground differently in flip-flops, too, with more pressure put on the outside edges and less on the heel. This causes a slight rotation of the lower portion of your leg, which in turn changes the angle of your pelvis and prompts increased torsion of the lower spine.