The recently concluded National Foot Health Assessment of 2012 has forced patients and professionals alike to consider the ramifications of poor arch support shoes, such as flip-flops and flats.
Researchers found that nearly 4 out of 5 people surveyed over the age of 21 reported at least one major foot problem as adults. The most common reported problems included calluses and corns, blisters, and athlete’s foot. Ankle sprains took the number one spot.
Researchers believe that low arch-support shoes, such as flats and flip-flops, might be at least a proximate cause of many of the twisted ankle cases seen by podiatrists. One notable researcher, Dr. David Levine of New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery, suggested that some people have more tolerance for low-support shoes than do others. If your foot is well balanced—that is, if your arch is nicely “in the middle” of the spectrum—and if you are otherwise healthy (i.e., not diabetic or obese), then you might be able to tolerate wearing flip-flops and flats. But these same shoes could be problematic for the less genetically gifted or metabolically unhealthy.
On the other hand, if you have a pronated gait, a low arch, or an obesity problem, your ankle is at higher risk of getting twisted. Furthermore, if you engage in aggressive play or work while in these shoes—for instance, if you play tennis in your flip-flops or hike in your flats—you will increase your risk of ankle problems, even if you are healthy.
What to do about your foot and ankle problems if you live in Pennsylvania?
The team here at Healthmark Foot & Ankle Associates has the skills, knowledge, and integrated resources to diagnose and help you heel from your Pennsylvania foot and ankle challenges. Get in touch with the team today at 610-565-3668 for fast assistance.