I love the summer when we can walk around barefoot or in flip flops or summer sandals! But it seems that there's trouble afoot with flip-flops.
Apparently these popular summer shoes protect arthritic knees, but for those of us who do not have arthritis, they can be bad news!

Generally I would say that Flip-flops are great and let your feet breathe. They don't harbour athlete's foot fungus, and they don't get smelly.There are even designer flip-flops. Gucci makes flip-flops in Italian leather that is cushy, comfy, and stylish and Reefs are a big name in the flip flop stakes as well!

Flip-flops however do not pass muster with podiatrists. The problem with flip-flops is that they easily slip off your feet. This means that wearers of flip-flops tend to take tiny steps, and don't hit the ground with full force. Flip-flops don't support the arches, and people with flat feet, especially, can experience pain in the ankles, legs, and knees if they wear flip-flops a lot.

Even people who do not have flat feet can have problems with flip-flops. The strap that holds the flip flops to the feet has to be gripped by the toes. This means it is not possible to take as long a step, and the ankle has to go through a wider angle of motion. The connective fascia at the ankle can pull on muscles all the way up into the hips, causing real pain after flip-flops have been worn while walking on grass, or in athletic competition.

The loose and comfortable attachment of flip-flops to the feet also means it's easy to get them caught on something. If you are walking across hot surfaces, you can experience a painful burn to the soles of your feet if the tar in the asphalt pulls your shoes off your feet. More seriously if you have diabetes, you may not notice the blisters that can form at the strap between your toes until they have become infected.

For sure there are times when flip-flops are the healthier footwear alternative.such as when you go to public changing rooms and showers, to avoid picking up fungal infections and the much more serious MRSA. Flip-flops are used by some branches of the US and European military services to prevent the spread of foot diseases.

People who have arthritic knees often find that flip-flops greatly reduce pain, for the same reason that people who have ankle problems may find that flip-flops increase pain. Although the ankles go through a wider angle of motion, the knees go through a narrower angle of motion, and there is less stress and less pain. Most arthritis specialists, however, do not recommend that knee pain sufferers wear flip-flops all the time.

Choosing among the summer footwear alternatives, flip-flops, sandals, and going barefoot. Flip-flops, of course, are just one of several choices for summer footwear. It's also possible to choose sandals, which are strapped to the foot, and much less likely to come off. Or one might just go completely shoe less, choosing bare feet. I wonder what the differences are in the health impacts of summer shoe choices?

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Hi Paddy!

I have looked into this and it seems that when you go barefoot, the middle of your foot strikes the ground as you walk or run. When you wear shoes or sandals, the back of your foot strikes the foot at you walk or run. And when you wear flip-flops, the front of your foot is more likely to contact the ground first. If you have injuries to specific parts of your feet, you may prefer one summer footwear alternative to the others, depending on where the injuries are.

When you go barefoot, your feet tend to turn to the sides to give you more traction. When you wear shoes of any kind, your feet tend to move forward without turning outwards. If you have a problem with your feet turning outward, don't wear flip-flops. If you have a problem with your feet turning inward, wear flip-flops when you can.

If you wear socks with sandals, you protect the soles of your feet from fungal infections, but fungi still penetrate your socks at the sides of your feet. If you don't wear socks at all, simply rinsing your sandals or flip-flops with cold water after extended use will remove many of the attached athlete's foot fungi--but be sure to dry your footwear before you use it again.

If you step on a sharp object while wearing rubber flip-flops, both the object and the rubber from your shoes may become embedded in your feet. Both have to be removed for complete healing of your foot.

If you are allergic to latex, you may develop a rash where the flip-flop strap is in contact with your toes if your flip-flops are made of rubber.

Constant gripping of the flip-flop strap can result in the development of hammer toes.

A pain in your ankle may be an early warning sign of Achilles tendonitis, which can make walking difficult for weeks or months. Achilles tendonitis usually does not respond well to over-the-counter pain relievers.

Don't forget to put sunscreen on your feet. Exposed skin on your feet can burn, too.

Wear the right shoes for every occasion. There's no doubt that flip-flops are great for walking on the beach. They're not good for taking a mountain hike. And don't wear the same pair of flip-flops day after day. Even flip-flops can accumulate athlete's foot fungus and infectious bacteria, and once your flip-flops have softened up enough that you can roll them into a ball, they don't offer enough support to protect your feet from rocks, sharp objects, and falls.

There is one time flip-flops will always fall flat in terms of foot health. That's when you walk across any ground that may be contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, or animal or human feces or urine, or if you or your neighbour's pets have been infected by worms. The comfort you feel on your feet just is not worth the risk of parasitic infection or chemical burns. Wear regular shoes when you must walk on contaminated ground.

A really good alternative to the traditional flip flop that I have found and use a lot is Birkenstock. They are flip flops but with molded foot beds so that they are very good for your feet as well as coming in loads of funky colours and designs!

I feel there is never a perfect shoe/sandal unless your willing to drop some serious cash

I agree with you Marian! I have spent hours and hours scouring the Internet for shoe bargains, and you never can really find them! It is a funny thing almost everything else especially clothes it is possible to find at knock down prices, but never shoes! I am a big fan of Birkenstock and wear them flip flop types in the summer and the clog types in the winter, I absolutely love them and they re supposed to be good for your feet. They are stylish and funky and completely great but you can never find them for less than about £50! I pay for them because they do last and they are so comfy and great and I have got to the age now where I can't really do heels so much but I don't want to look too frumpy!