Summer Feet

Summer Feet!

As summer finally seems to have arrived I thought we would talk about our feet, and how we can best protect them through the summer.

When you go barefoot, the middle of your foot strikes the ground as you walk or run. When you wear shoes or sandals, it is the back of your foot strikes the ground. Now that summer is here and flip-flops are everywhere, it is worth bearing in mind that when you walk in flip-flops, the front of your foot is more likely to contact the ground first.

Here are some summer foot facts!

•    When you go barefoot, your feet tend to turn to the sides to give you more traction. When you wear shoes of any kind, your feet tend to move forward without turning outwards. If you have a problem with your feet turning outward, don't wear flip-flops. If you have a problem with your feet turning inward, wear flip-flops whenever you can!

•    If you wear socks with sandals, you protect the soles of your feet from fungal infections, but fungi can still penetrate your socks at the sides of your feet. If you don't wear socks at all, simply rinsing your sandals or flip-flops with cold water after extended use will remove athlete's foot fungi--but be sure to dry your footwear before you use it again.

•    If you step on a sharp object while you are wearing rubber flip-flops, both the object and the rubber from your shoes may become imbedded in your foot. Both have to be removed to allow complete healing of your foot.

•    If you are allergic to latex, you may develop a rash where the flip-flop strap is in contact with your toes and if a rash develops this is likely to be the cause.

•    Constant gripping of the flip-flop with your toes can result in the development of hammertoes although you would have to wear them an awful lot for this to become a possibility!

•    Don't forget to put sunscreen on your feet. Exposed skin on your feet can burn, too.

The best advice is to wear the right shoes for every occasion. There's no doubt that flip-flops are great for walking on the beach. They're not good, however, for taking a mountain hike. And don't wear the same pair of flip-flops day after day because they will accumulate athlete's foot fungus and infectious bacteria.  It is worth knowing that once your flip-flops have softened up enough so that you can easily roll them into a ball, they will not offer enough support to protect your feet from rocks, sharp objects, and trips and falls.

There is one occasion when flip-flops will always fall flat in terms of foot health. That's when you walk across any ground that may be contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, or animal or human faeces or urine, or if pets have been infected by worms. The comfort you feel on your feet just is not worth the risk of parasitic infection or chemical burns. So be foot aware this summer for a trouble free holiday season.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and are only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and not as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

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Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio