As of Friday, summer has officially arrived. With the hot weather, shorts, sundresses and bikinis are near certainties to be seen, along with an assortment of flip-flops.
Flip-flops have become as much of a staple to American fashion as almost anything else. They are a $2 billion industry in the U.S. with 23 million sold annually — mainly because of the fit and feel.
“They’re very comfortable, easy to put on, I don’t get blisters like I would have with tennis shoes and they’re lightweight,” Penny Manning said. “I have at least 15 to 20 pairs of flip-flops.”
As temperatures rise, flip-flops give people an alternative to casual footwear like sneakers, which can become less desirable to some.
“Tennis shoes are too hot in the summer to me,” Skylar Manning said. “Plus, I like showing off my nail polish.”
Not everyone is a fan of flip-flops. The strap between the toes can be irritating to some and have been known to cause blisters.
“I don’t like the way they feel between my toes,” Tonya Taylor said. “I would rather wear sneakers.”
There are other dangers in wearing flip-flops. Medical expert John Whyte posted a story in The Huffington Post in 2011, saying “A recent study found that flip-flop wearers tend to grip the footwear with their toes, causing shorter stride length and improper force when their feet hit the ground. What does this mean? Basically, a powerful force is transferred up our legs, putting additional stress on our lower body.”
Whyte also wrote about the lack of arch support in flip-flops, which could cause plantar fasciitis — a painful inflammation of connective tissues on the sole of the foot — with prolonged use. Also, poorly made flip-flops could leave the user with flat feet.
Even the best quality flip-flops can’t defend against the more obvious risks of exposed feet. Stubbed toes, cuts, bruises and bug bites are amongst the problems that can be faced with flip-flops. Flip-flops made of flimsy material — such as foam — usually don’t provide much traction and can lead to sprained ankles.
Dr. Tim Rosenthal, who works at Eastern Carolina Foot And Ankle Specialists in Greenville, said people are better off with running shoes, but he gave tips on how to prevent foot pain with flip flops.
“Make sure they fit properly and make sure they have good arch support,” Rosenthal said. “I’m more of a fan of shoes with at least two or three straps on them. They help bind your arch and also give cushioning. Those shoes may be more expensive and most people won’t get them because of the price, but you get what you pay for.”
Rosenthal also advised against people wearing flip-flops if they have to travel a long distance in them or stand for long periods of time.
“I definitely wouldn’t run or jog in them because of the risk of twisting ankles, getting blisters or tearing toenails back,” Rosenthal said.
Despite the causes for concern, there will be a great deal of people who will still wear flip-flops this season.
“In the summer, your feet get sweaty,” Stacy Acevedo said. “I’ll take flip-flops over sneakers.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
