As the weather gets warm and ankle boots are put away let's remember the number one cardinal rule for dancers. Do not wear flip flops. Flip flops are known to cause long term feet, ankle, knee, back, and hip problems. Damage is caused not only because people scrunch their toes in an effort to keep their shoe on but also because of the general lack of support that flip flops offer.
My good friend Ashley is a professional ballerina in the bay area and the most talented dancer I have ever met. She also is an avid Minnie Mouse fan. She knew that while walking around Disneyland she needed shoes that gave support to her beautiful high arches. Flip flops were out and Minnie Mouse crocs were definitely in.
Me and my fellow dancing friends used to wear flip flops until our feet hurt and then we would switch to a shoe with more support. Bad. Very bad. Just avoid them all together. Doctors say that wearing flip flops for short lengths of time is okay, but who wears a pair of shoes for a short length of time? Just avoid them all together.
A few years ago ABC News reported on the hazards of flip flops so if I have not convinced you already, maybe a major news corporation will.
Are you a flip flop wearer? Have you ever experienced pain from them? Reader Elizabeth, from E Tells Tales, commented in the last post that her grandmother yells at her for wearing them, claiming they'll ruin her toes. That reminds me: Spring is here and sandals are out. Don't forget your pedicure.
24 comments:
Okay, then what the heck am I supposed to wear? I have sweaty feet (whoa TMI, I know) and those puppies need to air out in the summer heat!!
I LOVE flip flops because I can take them off so easily. However, if I know I have a lot of walking to do, I'll resort to a better shoe (if I have to).
Thanks, Tiffany! But what should we wear instead? I hate wearing close-toed shoes in the summer, and I thinks heels are just as bad or even worse. Are there options besides crocks? If it is still jeans weather, I totally wear cute tennis shoes or flats. But what if it's too hot for that?
well said. Crocs and Birkenstocks all the way if it's too hot for tennies. Flip flops last summer flared up my tendonitis AND gave me plantar fasciitis. Not worth it
hahah flip flops are terrible!!! Since I have flat feet I trip and fall all over the place with them. I also HATE driving with them on...
My little sister Sam used to wear them so much even in mid-November in RI that we'd have to throw them away so she couldn't wear them anymore...
The only issue is that if you're in a hot place (i.e. New England Summer LOL) you can get smelly feet wearing non flip flops...
I usually wear Nike Mary Jane sneakers and I have multiple Skechers sneakers/shoes that are breathable and appropriate for summer. However, on nights out I wear heels AND NEED NEED NEED Dr. Scholl deodorizing spray for my feet...My boyfriend makes fun of me because I have to WASH MY FEET in the tub before I can take my shoes off for the night...
I think crocks are fugly!!! (but then again so are smelly feet)...You just have to know you body and eh, if you are not flat footed or an athlete, maybe flip flops aren't that bad???
The beach is always good for them :)
http://hopechella.blogspot.com/
Sandals with arch support are okay. Just not sandals/flip flops with a flat sole. Even people with flat feet still need to wear a high arch because flat feet people tend to have loose ligaments and need more support.
@Hope Chella and Lauren- great advice. You two are both super stylish.
Hilarious! I'll have to show this to my grandmother...she will get a KICK out of it and probably says something like, "I told you so!"
:)
I am a fit flop wearer. But only randomly when I am ridiculously rushed to get out the door.
http://senseofstyleiseternal.blogspot.com/
Question is finding cute flip fop alternatives. I wore some with a sling back so I don't scrunch to hold them on. However, they did hurt my feet a little.
Thanks :) I try to, in Tim Gunn's words "Make it work" hahah
http://hopechella.blogspot.com/
oh dear... as an arizona native i pretty much wear flip flops year round!
i'm shaken to the core... going to have to rework my entire wardrobe :)
When I lived in NYC, I had to wash my flip flops with bleach every week. That city is nasty.
So right Tiffany I used to be a professional dancer many many moons ago, I to always wore a wedge or heel shoe (I liked to strut hee) now the fortys have hit I must admit sometimes that flip flop just has to come out when going to the beach. Happy dancing Elaine :)
i wear flip flops... in Miami it's almost mandatory... like a local uniform!
I wear flip flops to the beach but i always buy sandals so I have proper support.
Wow. Don't I wish I had continued to dance.... I miss it. Beautiful.
love always :)
hope to hear from you
xo amyy!
My pedicure is happening any day now. And no, I don't wear flip flops, except a roach crusher pair I wear a little in the backyard while weeding.
My spring/summer footwear is typically Born (found online @ their web site and Dillards). I also wear Tevas & Chacos, they are perfect summer sandals.
Thanks for the PSA! :)
This is bad news for me, I'm Australian and obsessed with Haviana 'thongs' as we call them. I've been wearing them from day dot, even when I was studying dance at school! Nobody ever told me this information..thanks for the heads up, although to be honest I don't think I could stop wearing them. I'll try not to wear them as much though!
Thanks for the warning! I'm glad flip flops don't seem to be very trendy this season anyway. Will be rocking my gladiators instead, which I'm sue will result in a lot less toe scrunching! I remember going on holiday a while back and wearing flip flops every day for 2 weeks - after several days I got tremendous lower leg pains which only disappeared when I switched to wearing trainers!
- Anna Jane xxx
(PixelatedBlonde.com)
seriously Tiff! This comment is so anti-Hawaiian...goodness..I'm not sure if I can do it..short periods of time..hmmm...must reflect on this..I'm with Steph, it helps with the airing out process...
Oh no! I had no idea. I've switched to Dr.Scholl's in the last few years (you know, the ones with the wood soles), but don't know if they are any better. I guess all shoes I'm wearing are terrible for my health.
I refuse to wear flip flops. I truly cannot stand them. That thwacking sound that they make when they hit the bottom of your foot when people walk in them just aggravates me. Plus, they are unfabulous! :)
uh oh. i have been wearing fit flops a lot, and they probably aren't so great for the feet either. dammit!
and these feet of mine need a pedicure BADLY. saturday is the day for that, for sure!
I developed terrrrrible plantar facitis from wearing flat flip-flop like shoes during and after my pregnacy. Like the pain wouldn't even go away when I sat and layed down. I finally had to wear strong arch support tennies with additional arch support and the pain gradually went away.
Plus, my heels just get torn to shreds from wearing them all throughout the year in LA. We're in a desert and all.
Thanks for the post!
oh goodness! i thought i was the only one that ever scrunched their toes to keep flip flops on. good stuff to know!
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