Advice on Foot Care

The urban dictionary has defined “mandals” as sandals for men. It has become more and more common to see men in sandals during the summer. In the past, men wore flip-flops only for their yearly beach trip and sported regular shoes the rest of the year. Over the past few years, the expanding fashion line of sandals for men has had trouble keeping up with the demand.

There are positives and negatives to the increase use of sandals in men. Many of the sandals on the market now are much more supportive than the traditional flip-flops. Some sandals are water proof and great for outdoor events, such as short hikes, trips to the beach and river trips. Some sandals are rigid enough to support the midfoot and have a wedged heel to help take pressure off the arch. BITE® sandals are designed to accommodate a custom orthotic or your favorite prefabricated insert. This allows those with foot problems to give their feet a break from enclosed shoes. This leads to the next advantage of increased sandal use during the summer. Sandals allow for more breathability and lessen the chance of developing fungus infections.

Unfortunately it is not all good news. Many sandals are too flexible, too soft and have no support. These sandals can contribute to the development of heel pain, tendonitis and pain in the ball of the foot. Many of the sandals have flimsy straps which make it difficult to keep the foot from sliding off the shoe and result in rub, irritation and blisters.

When looking for a sandal:

1. There should be enough material on the top of the sandal to keep your foot on the sole and prevent the foot from slipping. This is not as much of a problem for men as it is for women. But flip-flops do not have enough material on the top of the sandal to keep the foot on the sole.
2. The straps should have some padding. This is not the case for all sandals, many of the Chaco® sandals are excellent sport sandals, but some of the straps can cause blisters.
3. The sole of the sandal should be larger than your foot. Your foot should not hang over the edge or back of the sandal.
4. The sole of the sandal should be rigid and not flex in the middle. If you can take your sandal and fold it in half, then it is too flexible and it will not offer enough support.
5. The sandal should have a wedged heel. No, this is not a “high heel”, but the heel of the shoe should be higher than the front of the shoe. This helps distribute pressure and decrease stress through the arch.
6. When buying a sandal for walking, look for a sturdy sole, multiple straps with buckles or velcro, built in arch supports or an accommodation for an orthotic or insert.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS