• Written by William F. Neckman, LMT, NMT

Many people today choose to wear flip-flops for more than just going to the beach or lounging around the pool at home. Quite a few choose to wear this type of footwear out during the summer just as they would any other type of shoe. While these might seem very comfortable and practical to many, they could be causing a problem with your feet. This problem could be brewing right now and you may not even know it.

The Problem With Flip-Flops

Flip-flops will traditionally have a thinner sole than other shoes, and they do not have as much cushion to them. If you were only walking on the sand, this might not be a problem. As mentioned, though, people wear these everywhere. They wear them when they are walking through the malls, walking around the neighborhood, or even while they are standing at work for long periods. This provides the foot with very little protection, and it could increase the risk of developing plantar fasciitis.

They can cause stretching of the fascia, the ligament that connects the heel to the toes. The stretching, and the small tears, will cause pain in the heel and pain while you walk. This can be especially painful during those first few steps of the morning or the first few steps after you have been sitting for a while. This pain will persist even when you are wearing different shoes. Some people might even develop a heel spur, which is a calcium deposit that can form if you do not treat the plantar fasciitis.

The Rio Vista Wellness Center knows and understands the pain of plantar fasciitis and offers treatment options that could help. Keep in mind that just because you have heel pain does not always mean it is plantar fasciitis. It could be something else that is causing the pain. Working with a quality therapist can help you to find the exact cause of your pain, so you can then find the best way to treat it.

How to Deal With Plantar Fasciitis

For many people, getting enough rest, proper stretching, and strength training exercise can be useful for mending the condition. However, that might not be enough for everyone to deal with their problem. In severe conditions, some might suggest that you have surgery. You may not have to go that route though. Consider some alternate therapy options that can help to reduce the pain and improve your posture and the movement in your foot.

The therapists can provide you with neuromuscular therapy or MyoKinesthetic treatment that could work out well for you. This is more than just massage therapy. These treatment options are very popular, and they can target the areas that are in pain and provide you with relatively fast relief; compared with other methods. One of the best things about these types of treatments is that they could help some patients to avoid the need for surgery.

Stay Away from the Flip-Flops

Just because using neuromuscular therapy or MyoKinesthetic treatments can help you with your condition, this does not mean you should go back to wearing flip-flops everywhere. Instead, make sure you are wearing them in the appropriate locations, such as when you are at the beach. Use other shoes that are higher quality when you are walking on hard surfaces or standing for a long time.