One of the first signs of summer is sandals, and for many, the sandal of choice is flip flops. Before running out to your local retailer and stocking up on a cheap array of colorful, rubber choices for the entire family, there are a few things to keep in mind. Footwear is huge when it comes to functional biomechanics, and choosing the right shoe can help eliminate pain in your back, hips, knees, and feet.
The flat, rubber options that many retailers offer might feel okay at first, but prolonged use can invite a host of problems, including plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis, also called “heel pain syndrome,” affects approximately 2 million people in the United States each year and usually is the result of a degenerative process or sudden foot trauma. It can appear in one heel or both. Sudden foot trauma can come about from improper footwear choices like flat, rubber flip flops, because these shoes allow excessive pronation or under-pronation, as well as impair shock absorption.
Compensation is another problem that can come from wearing flip-flops. If the shoes, or our gait, while we wear them, are uncomfortable, we will compensate and begin to move our body in a new or different way to avoid pain. It’s possible to bring on plantar fasciitis as a result of compensating. But in a chicken or egg scenario, persistent pain from plantar fasciitis itself may get you to shift your weight to the outside of the affected foot, or you may try to land on the toes. Any of these pain-avoiding strategies throw the body out of alignment—and can lead to stressed joints and new pain in other parts of the body.
Many types of treatment have been used to combat plantar fasciitis, however, manipulative treatment has shown to be beneficial when it comes to restoring normal joint mechanics to reduce tension across the plantar fascia. It’s important to note though, that treatment and recovery from plantar fasciitis is a slow process.
If you’ve already noticed some changes in your gait or are experiencing pain from switching over to summer-friendly footwear, call Carlson Chiropractic Center and set up a consult with one of our doctors. Most importantly, remember that this summer you can stop a painful process before it starts simply by shopping smarter for sandals and summer footwear. Choose wisely and think about comfort and support. Your feet will thank you for it!