Summer is the perfect time to kick off your socks and shoes and just let your feet be free. After a long, cold winter (especially here in Minnesota anyway), kicking off boots or closed toe shoes and slipping into a nice pair of sandals, seems like a little slice of heaven. For some of us though, this can be kind of tricky. As much as I would love to go barefoot all summer like I did when I was a kid, my feet (wide, with high arches) require more support in order to stay pain free.
Are you like me and love flip flops, but notice that your heel hurts when you wear them? Do you need extra support, but not sure what to look for in a sandal? Dr. Langer from Twin Cities Orthopedics offers sound advice when it comes to choosing summer footwear.
“Summer is great because it gives us many more footwear options than the colder seasons do. It is healthy to allow our feet a reprieve from the confinement of conventional footwear. Light weight shoes and sandals allow for better air movement around the skin of our feet and tend to allow the feet to spread out and function more naturally than conventional shoes. Many people with wide feet, bunions or hammertoes, find relief when they can wear sandals or less restrictive footwear. Conversely, some people, especially those who wear orthotics benefit from more structured/stable shoes, may be more prone to foot problems if they wear less supportive footwear. Fortunely, there are a great variety of summer footwear options to address almost any foot need.
As with shoes, a skilled shoe fitter cannot predict which sandal would be most comfortable for a given individual, but there are great options available to address many of the most common foot conditions.”
Paul R. Langer, DPM of Twin Cities Orthopedics is a board certified podiatrist who specializes in sports medicine, foot disorders, biomechanics, surgery and diabetic foot care. He has lectured at and served on the medical staff of international athletic events including the Boston Marathon and China’s Gobi March. He is a clinical advisor for the American Running Association, and an associate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He is the author of Great Feet for Life: Footcare and Footwear for Healthy Aging and has contributed to three other medical texts.
Dr. Langer is an avid runner and triathlete and has completed more than 25 marathons and an Ironman triathlon.
*** If you would like to talk sandals with us, stop in at any of our store locations. We have Board Certified Pedorthists and Shoe Fit Experts that will help you pick out sandals that are right for your lifestyle and your feet.