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Flip-flops have been recognized as the most correct footwear
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Orthopedists and podiatrists consider regular flip-flops "through the finger" to be the most correct footwear from an anatomical point of view. Why?
Regular beach flip-flops, as it turns out, can help prevent the development of several of the most common foot deformities, to which most of the adult population of the planet is prone. The most well-known pathology: a change in the joint at the base of the big toe, due to which a painful bump appears on the inside of the foot - a "bump": because of this bump, a huge number of women over 25 are deprived of the opportunity not only to wear model shoes, but also to simply walk in the future... Shoes "through the toe" can in some cases prevent or, at least, significantly slow down the pathological process.
The thing is that when worn for a long time, narrow shoes force the joint at the base of the big toe to take an abnormal position: the big toe begins to creep up on the adjacent one. The bridge, on the contrary, is especially soft and thick, and does not allow the big toe to get closer to its neighbor.
There is an opinion that flip-flops are harmful for valgus flatfoot. Strictly speaking, with this diagnosis, you simply should not wear shoes with a flat sole. But if you choose flip-flops with a small elevation under the heel, and also made of elastic rubber, then such shoes will not cause any complications.
However, there is a certain category of "flip-flops" that you should stay away from: flip-flops with a hard and thin sole. They look very elegant on the foot, but you can only walk in them for a very short time and only on a perfectly flat surface. You shouldn't wear them either on the beach or in the city: the thin and hard sole, fixed to the foot at three points, leads to the fact that the impact load on the foot, ankle and knee increases several times! The sole of the flip-flops must be very elastic, no thinner than 1 centimeter and non-slip.
When choosing another pair, carefully examine the shoes. It is bad if the flip-flops are made of too smooth plastic or covered with glaze: such shoes make sense when it is important to be able to disinfect them (for example, in a hospital). You should not choose flip-flops with bulky and hanging decorations in all directions: all this will irritate the delicate skin of the foot when walking. Carefully examine the bridge: it should be thick enough, rounded in cross-section and have no seams, scars or layers (sometimes happens with poor quality plastic). When trying on, it is important to pay attention to the arches: they should not fit too tightly to the foot!
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