Summer's perfect match hides fatal risks

In addition to watermelon and ice cream, are flip-flops also a synonym for summer in your mind? But do you know that wearing flip-flops for a long time is not good for your health? While you are enjoying the fashion and coolness brought by flip-flops, they may be "draging down" your health. The feeling of the air and grass caressing your skin is probably why your feet want to wear flip-flops when traveling.

I didn't expect you to be such a flip-flop

Summer is here, and convenient and simple flip-flops are back and becoming one of the must-have items for people when traveling. Flip-flops have a simple structure but can be worn in different styles, making them popular among all kinds of people.

In fact, flip-flops were originally designed to facilitate people walking at the beach or in the swimming pool. They are different from the shoes we wear every day for walking all day long.

Flat soles with no arch support

The soles of flip-flops are flat and cannot provide arch support for our feet. The shoes we wear daily take the shape of the soles of the feet into consideration and have arch support at the arches so that the arches can also bear the force.

The sole is thin and the shock absorption ability is poor

The soles of flip-flops are thin and have poor shock absorption ability on the ground. When you land in flip-flops, you can clearly feel the recoil force coming back from the ground. The soles of the shoes we wear daily are generally thicker than those of flip-flops, and have stronger shock-absorbing capabilities than flip-flops. They can disperse the impact of the ground on the soles of the feet when landing, reducing the burden on the feet.

Because of this, flip-flops are not suitable for long-term wear, and generally you should not wear them for walking continuously for more than 1 hour. If you wear flip-flops for a long time, your feet may suffer from health problems.

Don't let flip-flops "drag down" your health

Soft and beautiful flip-flops are not as comfortable as they look. If you wear shoes with flat and thin soles for a long time, it may cause certain harm to your body.

Cause tendon strain

The main principle of walking in flip-flops is to use the strength of your toes to clamp the two middle straps of the shoe, driving the entire shoe forward. In order to hold the shoes more firmly, the toes will unconsciously tense for a long time and curl up to grab the soles of the shoes. If this twisted state continues for a long time, it will cause tendon strain under the toes and even nerve inflammation.

Causes "inward eight characters"

When wearing flip-flops, people tend to change their gait unconsciously, with faster frequency and smaller steps, and the center of gravity of the body leans forward, the knees will naturally bend, and the spine at the waist will also bend. Over time, not only will your steps become turned inward, but your knees and spine will also ache.

Causes heel pain

The soles of normal people's feet have a certain curvature, which can help us cushion the vibration when walking. However, walking in flip-flops is like walking directly on the ground without wearing shoes. They can neither fit the curvature of the soles of the feet nor provide sufficient support for the feet. This can cause pain in the back of your heel, arch, and toes.

Feet are more susceptible to injury

Flip-flops offer no protection at all when people are walking on gravel roads. Think back to when you wore flip-flops and suffered a lot more cuts, punctures, and scrapes. Sandals with straps are a healthier choice because not only do you not have to bend your toes to hold the shoe in place, but they also provide better ankle and heel protection.

Bacteria breeding ground

There are tens of thousands of bacteria quietly growing inside flip-flops. A study once showed that flip-flops carry up to 18,000 bacteria. In the summer, when the heels are dry, the plastic soles of flip-flops rub against the soles of the feet and all the tiny cuts and cracks, providing an ideal breeding environment for a large number of bacteria. Flip-flops worn in public toilets carry 13,900 bacteria.

Increased risk of skin cancer

The ultraviolet rays in the sun will stimulate the skin to produce a large number of oxidative free radicals, which will damage skin cell tissue, accelerate the production of melanin, cause skin pigmentation, roughness, loss of elasticity, and reduce skin resistance. Wearing flip-flops barefoot exposes the skin of your feet to direct sunlight, increasing the risk of skin cancer.