foot health

Sunshine and summer holidays go hand in hand, (foot in foot!) with bare feet or flip flops.  This might signify summer living, but these habits may also be playing a major role in the downfall of your feet.
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Our Chiropractic clinic regularly sees an increase in painful conditions and not solely chronic foot pain that emanates with a preference for flip flops and bare feet.

The benefits and freedom of wearing flip flops or going bare foot in keeping your feet cool and avoiding ‘tan lines’ are outweighed the potential harm to your feet, ankles, knees and hips. Dr Kristine Hagen explains; ‘Although it takes time for your gait to change, continued wear of non-supportive shoes can ultimately lead to serious complications, especially in your ankles, heels, and the soles of your feet.’

Constantly moving without good footwear increases your risk for painful conditions like:

• Heel spurs
• Plantar fasciitis
• Chronic inflammation

As a result of dysfunction in your ankles and feet, you may also develop pain that radiates up into your legs and back.
Inadequate footwear, especially flip flops, forces the ankles to turn inward, changing how you walk and the length of your strides. Your constant, but subconscious, efforts to keep your flip flops in place can lead to aching muscles and persistently tired feet.

The prospect of chronic pain
When your walking movements begin to change, you may be inadvertently putting excess pressure on your joints, especially in the ankles and toes. This pressure can cause degenerative joint changes and increase your risk for developing chronic pain from arthritis.
You may also be at increased risk for chronic muscle and joint pain that results from overuse of these tissues when wearing non-supportive shoes or because of injuries you sustain in a fall due to poor support from your footwear of choice.