Not Everyone Needs to Avoid Wearing Flip-Flops: MD Podiatrist

“It is true that the risk of falling is higher in flip-flops, but this risk applies to all shoes that do not secure well to the foot such as high heels, mules, clogs, or even poorly fitting shoes,” says Dan Michaels, DPM. “Additionally, there is no evidence in the research that flip-flops increase the risk of heel pain or toe alignment changes in people with healthy feet any more than other types of footwear. Heel pain, hammertoes, and bunions are very common in the general population, even in those who have never worn flip-flops. Many factors contribute to these foot concerns including genetics, lifestyle, and biomechanical imbalances.”

“Flip-flops place more demand on the muscles and joints of the feet than conventional shoes, and that can be a good thing. Having a capacity to wear footwear with little to no support is an important part of long-term foot health. An often-overlooked benefit of flip-flops (and more broadly, sandals) is that they let our feet spread out more than shoes typically do. This is one of the reasons people find flip-flops comfortable,” says Dr. Michaels.