The warm weather seems to be here early this year which means that the sandals and flip flops are out and about. Do your feet a favor and don’t skimp on your choice of footwear. Often times people are apt to purchase sandals
based off of looks or costs but fail to remember what is good for their
feet biomechanically, or are simply unaware. If you’re an individual
that has low arches or flat feet,
flip flops put an extra load of stress on the plantar fascia of the
plantar foot. This can cause aching pain in the heels and plantar foot.
If you are experiencing foot pain and frequently wear sandals consider visiting one of Dr. Michael Garvin’s offices of Port St. Lucie, Florida. Dr. Garvin has been analyzing patient’s gaits, and their footwear choices for over 20 years. He can offer you a healthy alternative to keep your feet cool, stylish, and healthy during the warmer months!
According to a recent survey by the American Podiatry Medical Association,
42% of women admitted that they would wear heels they loved in spite of
them being painful to their feet. It’s no secret that many people are
willing to sacrifice comfort for looks. The phrase “beauty is pain” has
been around for decades and hasn’t seemed to wane. High heels are
currently as popular as ever in American fashion, and their average
height has only increased. If women are willing to admit high heels are
often painful, the real issue isn’t a question of if they’re detrimental, but a matter of how detrimental they are. Based off of research by the Journal of Applied Physiology that was featured on the Today Show,
women who routinely wear high heels will actually start to mimic their
high heeled stance while barefoot. This same research has demonstrated
that excessive heel wearing can lead to shortened calf muscle fibers,
exceptionally tight Achilles tendons, and other foot and ankle related
conditions. This opens the door to tendon rupture, muscular pathologies,
and gait abnormalities that can become serious lower extremity health
conditions.
If
you are currently experiencing pain in the calf and or foot and are a
consistent heel wearer, consider visiting a Podiatrist to assess your
lower extremity health. Dr. Michael Garvin of Port Saint Lucie, Florida has been treating patients suffering from lower extremity pain for years. Dr. Garvin
is a board certified Podiatrist that focuses on healing patients, and
preventing future complications. For further information regarding your
feet visit his website here.
