Summer is flip-flop season, but flip-flops also make your feet more prone to injury because your feet are working a little harder to keep the flip-flop on than when you're wearing a sneaker or something more supportive.
"What happens is it alters your gait mechanics, so your stride is a little bit different,” physical therapist Jaime Quinn says. “Your body and your muscles are working a little harder as you walk, so a little less efficient gait."
Quinn says flip-flops often have no support and can be especially bad for people with flat feet.
"Flat flip-flops can cause plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis and nerve problems, because our bodies are used to some type of support so our heel bed is a little more supportive than an actual flat flip-flop," Quinn says.
And it's not just your feet that flip-flops can create problem for.
"It can cause excessive stress on your ankles, your knees, your hips and your back," Quinn says.
But that doesn't mean you have to forget the flip-flop altogether.
"If you are going to wear a flip-flop, you want to look for one that has some more support. So specifically an arch support, one that might have a strap on the back of the shoe so that it stays on your foot a little bit easier. And maybe something that has a little bit of a heel or kind of a heel cup to provide a little bit more stability for your ankle,” Quinn suggests.
She says wear them at the pool or at the beach, but wear them in moderation. If you are going to walk a long distance, put your sneakers on.