Dr. Marlene Reid, a podiatric physician from Naperville and the President of the Illinois Podiatric Medical Association has some advice on which sandals to buy, how to wear them, and how to keep your feet blister free this summer. Reid says flip flops are not appropriate for walking long distances, any athletic activity, any outdoor work like lawn work, anything involving heavy lifting, or if you have a food injury or wound. Reid for the best foot health, flip flops should be limited to the beach, pool or in the shower. Reid says some flip flops are better than others. Look for those that have somewhat of an arch, a deeper heel cup and a soft and natural toe thong. Also, orthotic sandals will work with the foot to allow the best foot function rather than standard flip flops that fight the foot's normal function. Any shoe that doesn't allow the foot to function (walk) naturally is not a good thing. Reid says the bottom line is that no matter what shoe you wear, if you have foot pain, see a podiatric physician--foot pain is not normal!
FLIP FLOP 101
When Appropriate
FLIP FLOP 101
When Not Appropriate
APMA Approved Flip Flops (from www.apma.org )
Chaco, Inc.
Casual Collection (Campus Gunnison, Conundrum Leather (men's), Devotee Gunnison (women's), Dilemma Leather Gunnison (men's), Enigma Vibram Yampa, Enigma Yampa, Irony Vibram Yampa, Irony Yampa, Loyalist Gunnision (women's), and Woodstock Gunnison)
Flip Collection (Aurora (women's), Bora (men's), Community Ecotread (women's), Cordonazo (Men), Etesia Ecotread (women's), Flip Ecotread, Flip Out Ecotread (women's), Flip Pro, Flip X Ecotread (women's), Flippin' Chill Ecotread (Men's), Hobo Flip Ecotread (Men's), Indigen Ecotread (women's), Leather Flip, Leather Flippa Ecotread (women's), Leather Slip Ecotread (women's), Local Ecotread (women's), Locavore Ecotread (women's), Native Ecotread (women's), and Sway (women's))
Sandals Collection (Hipthong, Hipthong Pro, Wrapsody, Z1 Kids, Z1 Leather (Men's), Z1 Marine, Z1 Pro, Z1 Unaweep, Z1 Yampa, Z2 Marine, Z2 Pro, Z2 Unaweep, Z2 Yampa, Zong (women's), Zong X Ecotread (women's), ZX1 kids, ZX1 Unaweep (women's), ZX1 Yampa (women's), ZX2 Unaweep (women's), and ZX2 Yampa (women's))
Dansko LLC
Arcadia Collection, Belmont Collection, Capri Collection, Sanibel Collection, and Sausalito Collection
FitFlop Limited
Clog (a/w 10), Clog (Gogh), Dass, Electra, Fiorella, Happy Gogh, Hyka, Hyker, Leather Boot Short, Leather Boot Tall, Medical/Professional Shoe, Mukluk Short, Mukluk Tall, Oasis, Pietra, Rebel, Riata, Rockstar, Roma, Shakoha, Suede Boot Short, Ultra Lounge, Walkstar 1, and Walkstar 3
Orthaheel (Vasyli)
Allegre Sandal, Del Mar men's medical Sandal, Holly Sandal, Island, Sandal, Kinetic men's and women's Sandal, Kiwi Men's and women's Sandal, Lisa Sandal, Lori Sandal, Porto Sandal, Ryder Sandal, Seaside Sandal, Seatrek Sandal, Seaview Sandal, Solano Sandal, South Beach women's Sandal, Tide Sandal, VAS BJ Penn Pro Model 1 Sandal, VAS Logo Icon Sandal, Wave Sandal; Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear: Charm, Compass, Hope, Journey, Mystic, Portal, Restore, Seek and Spirit
Reebok International Ltd.
EasyTone Craze, EasyTone Flip, EasyTone Flip II, EasyTone NVee, SimplyTone Flip-women's, SimplyTone Us, and Ultra Versa II Sandal Toddler model
Reef
Reef Arch 1
Salomon USA
RX Break men's and women's footwear
See Kai Run
See Kai Run Children's Sandals (Hillary, Rona, Sara, Gillian, Merrilee, Rye, Tomo, Jude, Oren, and Evan)
SOLE
Sole Platinum Sandal Sport Flip
Spenco Medical Corporation
Spenco® Total Support Performance Sandals
Stride Rite Children's Group
SRT™ Collection Sandal models (Andre, Bernard, Emerald PS, Gabriela,Holden, and Yasmin)
The Walking Company
Abeo Sandal
Wolky
Zen Collection (Serenity)
