by Sarah Wood

Created on: August 18, 2010

Flip-flops are not only fashionable, but come in a variety of styles, colors and literally fit every piece that is in your wardrobe. When spring and summer hit you can't help it, but buy these affordable items for the comfort of not having to wear shoes every day. Not only do some companies make them comfortable, but they are worth every penny when they last a long time. You see older women, middle aged women and even youngsters walking in these everyday beauty giants. One can't help, but wonder where the problem comes in.

For those who have flat feet, these might just be your welcome in heaven. No more trying to walk in high heels that might not feet comfortably with your feet, no more do you have to worry about buying shoes that are to tight, but how safe are they to walk in every day? How safe are they to wear every day during spring and summer? Even women and men who have high bridged feet walk daily in these shoes allowing their feet to breath, cool down and feel comfortable.

Researches at Auburn University and many other doctors that study in this field have declared that not only can it change the way how you walk, but it can cause serious ankle, sole and heel problems. The study consisted of 39 women and men who portrayed walking in their fashion stables finding that not only did these women scrunch their toes so the flip-flops won't fall off, but when women walked this way this fashion stable surely became a fashion don't because the heel lifted in the air without any backbone, but the soft flip-flop cushioning bottom hitting the ground as hard as it can. The motion not only stretches the connective tissue that runs from heel to toe, but causes inflammation and pain along the women’s soul causing the jerky movements that just one wrong move could end becoming a disaster in itself.

The women also curled their ankles inwards to prevent the flip-flop fashion from falling off causing most of the researches to believe that it would lead to problems in your ankles and hips with the uneven walking. These startling revelations as one might say, has still not prevented the everyday walker in flip-flops. The study has also shown them what better choices of footwear to wear such as sandals with heel straps, but even the ones going barefoot might have a healthier chance of not hurting their ankles and hips as much.

Dr. Justin Shroyer taped these young women and men while they walked around in a thong shaped flip-flops all day after hearing numerous complaints from college women and men after summer break that their feet, ankles and legs were constantly in pain. After digitizing each picture and film, he came up with disturbing evidence that proves flip-flop everyday wearers were in serious pain more than they thought. Justin Shroyer is not the first doctor to analyze these studies, in fact the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons reported an increased number in heal pain after spring and summer. These studies suggest that it is not necessarily a horrible thing to wear flip-flops once in a while during summer when you go down to the beaches, bars or on boats, but wearing them as fashion symbol may cause serious consequences in the end. It is highly suggested that if you are already feeling pain in your legs, ankles, and heels go ahead and kick off those flip-flops and try to afford some sport shoes and light socks that may help your feet to feel more comfortable during day use.

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