When we were little kids we called flip-flops, thongs. Thongs were called "g-strings" and were an item mostly worn by naughty girls or strippers (according to my Mom). Now, thongs are underwear and swimsuit bottoms for women and (frighteningly) men and flip-flops are what you wear on your feet. I sometimes still refer to flip-flops as thongs and boy, the looks I get!

In any case they were the summer footwear "de rigueur" of my childhood. We wore them everywhere for everything, (except church, I think) and they were anything but, stylish! Spongy rubber, one color, with (most of the time) a textured white footbed was the standard appearance for the flip-flops of my youth.

We'd slip them on the first day of summer vacation and were rarely seen out of them, unless swimming, sleeping or slumming around barefoot. Of course there was always the second-day-sore-space between your big toe and second toe since you hadn't developed the necessary thong callus yet! Plus you'd get that "burny" sensation on the soles of your feet that could only be relieved by whining about it and pleading for popsicles from your mom!

Well, flip-flops have steadily grown in popularity and evolved into a fashion statement, not to mention a hazard to your health!

Believe it or not, almost 200,000 people ended up in emergency rooms last year with injuries related to their shoes. Of those, 25,300 were flip-flop induced injuries! The Consumer Product Safety Commission confirms these numbers and podiatrists have even more to say about the favorite summer footwear of millions!

Flip-flops according to Today Health are to blame for:

blisters, bacteria, viral infections, bad posture, shooting pains, bunion exacerbation (and formation!), hammertoe issues, athlete's foot, and lack of arch support.

Another study indicates that flip-flops can change the way you walk, (sometimes permanently) precipitate bad posture, back problems and more. But don't despair and don't dump all your beloved flip-flops, just follow some common-sense tips:

  1. Don't wear flip-flops when you drive, they can get stuck under the gas or brake pedal and all hell can break loose!
  2. Pay a little more for a higher quality flip-flop, they tend to be less expensive (in most cases) so get one with arch support and a bit more stability
  3. Replace worn-out flip-flops every few months
  4. Watch where you walk, if you're not going to protect your feet from all the hazards out there by wearing shoes, then be extra careful.
  5. Leather is the material that is preferable to avoid blisters
  6. Take care of your feet! They need sunscreen and pampering after being exposed to the elements

Have a happy, safe Flip-flop summer!

 

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