05 Jul Are Jandals Good Or Bad For Your Feet?
Personally, as Kiwis, we have nothing against jandals. In fact, they’re incredibly handy to slip on to head to the beach, wear to the local pool, pop on to go check the mail or grab an ice cream from the shop – and so on. In many cases, wearing jandals is much better than the alternative of bare feet, especially when there’s a risk of hurting or cutting your foot on the ground – or burning the soles of your feet on the hot sand. But. When it comes to any form of “real” walking or activity, they can quickly become much more of a nuisance than a friend. Here are five reasons why.
Jandals Do Not Provide Ankle Support To Your Feet
Picture your foot sitting inside a sneaker or any other closed-in shoe that supports and cups your heel and ankle. With every step you take, that shoe will support your ankle and your foot, helping to keep it in a good, stable and supported position.
Now, imagine your foot in a jandal, taking that same step. Visualise how your ankle is free to move around however it likes. Picture how it wobbles in and out. Now think about all the intrinsic muscles that will have to work much harder to try to give your ankles back some stability on the completely flat surface the jandal creates (which on uneven ground is at various angles).
In this visual scenario, it’s easy to see how the lack of support from jandals actually works against you, leading to fatigue and discomfort – and, if done over many kilometres, leaving you at an increased risk of injury. Hence, this is the first vote for jandals being bad for your feet.
Jandals Make Your Toes Work Too Hard
When you’re walking in jandals, without the right support to keep your jandals on your feet, your toes will naturally be working much harder to grip onto the jandal – something we naturally tend to do to protect our forefoot from damage. So your toes will be doing this to stabilise your foot against the ground and also to keep your jandal from falling off.
What many people don’t realise is that this gripping motion places excessive stress on the muscles and tendons in your toes, leading to muscle fatigue and discomfort, which you wouldn’t incur if you were wearing shoes that had a secure fastening mechanism.
Jandals Have No Arch Support
Regular jandals also offer no arch support for your feet. This lack of arch support can strain the muscles and ligaments in your feet, especially the plantar fascia (a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot). Without adequate support, your arches may become strained and cause discomfort. It’s also one of the contributing factors to plantar fasciitis that many of our patients struggle with.
If you have flat feet (pronation), having no arch support also means your foot is flattening as far as it can go with every step. While it does that, so many muscles are working to lower it down and then engaging to lift the arch back up and get you taking that next step. This happens at every step. For hours each day. The chances of that adding up to foot pain? It’s notable for many people.
Jandals Don’t Even Provide Much Cushioning
Jandals usually have thin soles made of materials such as rubber or foam. The lack of proper cushioning means your feet may experience more impact with each step, particularly on hard surfaces. We can just hear that loud slap on the ground! This impact can cause strain on the joints and bones in your feet, leading to pain and potential issues like stress fractures.
These are our first five reasons why jandals are bad for your feet, but you can bet there’s more. These other reasons stem from the fact that our feet are the foundations of our body. And if the shoe that guides and supports our foundations is unstable, those foundations are much more likely to crumble. Our foundation also affects our ankles, knees, hips, back and even neck. The shorter strides we take to keep jandals from flying off changes how we use the muscles of our back, hips, legs and feet – all can cause additional tension and strain.
Jandals Can Cause Instability And Altered Gait
Jandals also provide minimal stability and can alter your natural walking gait. The lack of a secure fit and the loose nature of flip-flops can make your feet slide around, forcing you to make unnatural adjustments while walking. This altered gait can place additional stress on your feet, leading to discomfort and potential injuries such as ankle sprains or strains. The lack of stability can also affect your balance and increase the risk of falls, especially on uneven or slippery surfaces.
Jandals Don’t Protect Your Feet
Jandals also expose your feet to the elements and provide minimal protection. Your feet are more vulnerable to injuries such as stubbed toes, cuts, scrapes, and sunburn. These injuries can contribute to foot pain and discomfort.
Jandals Are A Tripping Hazard
Finally, jandals can be less secure and stable than other types of shoes, making them a tripping hazard. The loose fit and open design increase the risk of tripping or catching the edge of the flip-flop on uneven surfaces. Trips and falls can result in foot injuries, including sprained ankles or fractures.
The Best Alternative To Jandals?
If you are spending days in your jandals, there are more comfortable alternatives. Orthoheels, Archies and Vionics offer contoured and more supportive jandals or sandals to help get you through your day more comfortably. Many of these have been developed in association with a podiatrist, so make sure you research if you intend to purchase one with the right supportive technology. Remember, even though they’re better for your feet than a standard jandal, they’re not going to be as good as a regular, supportive shoe. Keep this in mind if you’re dealing with a foot injury and want to optimise your recovery and not risk setting yourself backwards.
FAQs
What are the main health risks of wearing jandals regularly?
Jandals often lack support and shock absorption, which can lead to foot problems such as stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, and changes in gait.
Can wearing jandals cause toe problems?
Yes, the design of jandals can lead to issues like hammertoes and bunions due to insufficient foot support and the way toes grip the jandals to keep them in place.
How often should I replace my jandals?
If you’re going to be wearing jandals, then replace them either every year or when you see notable signs of wear on their sole, which reduces any minimal support they may offer.
What precautions can I take if I must wear jandals?
Limit the time spent wearing jandals to situations where less walking or standing is involved, like lounging at the pool or beach, to reduce the risk of foot injuries and discomfort.