Warning: Flip-flops are a health hazard

If you have a pair of flip-flops my advice is to throw them away because this item of footwear is a danger to your personal health! I know this because I had an accident wearing them and now have lost my big toenail of my left foot, have badly bruised that toe and the one next to it, as well as grazing my hands.

It turns out that I am not alone in having hurt myself by wearing flip-flops. I discovered that I have friends who have injured themselves by wearing this type of footwear and the entry in Wikipedia points out the dangers they can cause too.

I was wearing flip-flops because the soles of my far better sandals had worn out. I don’t like flip-flops but had a pair and thought I could learn to get along with them just like so many other people I see wearing them. I was very wrong and should have stuck to my instincts, as I now know after the damage has been done.

The other day I missed the bus back to the village I live in which is just a few kilometres from the town of Icod de los Vinos where I had been doing some shopping. I decided to walk it as I have often done in the past along the narrow downhill road into San Marcos which is near the sea.

About halfway along the way I stumbled and fell putting my hands out in front of me. I had fallen on gravel and concrete and some of my shopping had fallen out of the bag and was now on the road. I was in pain and shock but picked myself up. My hand was bleeding and my one foot was bleeding very badly too, especially the big toe.

I retrieved the cans of shopping that were on the road and hobbled my way back to the apartments I live in. When I got in I felt really woozy and broke out into a sweat. I felt really faint and had to lie down until I felt better.

I went into the bathroom to wash the blood away from my wounds and it was then that I had a real shock because I saw that the reason my big toe was bleeding so badly is because I had lost the toenail. It must have ripped out when I fell. This was far worse than just stubbing my toe. I had badly damaged it.

I think that my feeling of faintness was probably a delayed reaction to the pain and shock. At least I was home because it could have been worse if I had collapsed out on the road.

Later on in the afternoon I posted a status update and Facebook. I also took a photo of my foot (the one included here too) and posted that too.

There were loads of replies from friends with all sending best wishes for my recovery, many suggesting all sorts of treatments including hydrogen peroxide, which I have and had already been using, painkillers and an urgent appointment with a doctor. The last option is of no use to me because I have no healthcare here having not paid in enough to be covered.

Some of my friends shared painful accidents they had also had whilst wearing flip-flops. For example Julie Hume posted: “Still wear flippies though I bust my toe open on the door of Caja Rural a couple of months back. Not a pretty sight.”

And Debbie Lewis Allen said: “I too despise flip flops ever since I tripped on a rock wearing them and tore the ligaments in my ankle and Achilles tendon and was in a soft cast for 6 weeks. NOOO to flip flops and yes to sandals”

The Wikipedia detailed entry about flip-flops has this information: “Flip-flops can result in many pains and injuries. Individuals who walk for long periods report pain in the feet, ankles, and lower legs. The lack of support often results inover-pronation injuries, caused by the foot slipping inwards further than normal.”

It goes on to add that this lack of support can cause flat feet and tendinitis. Not only that but “Anklesprains or broken bones are common injuries, due to stepping off a curb or tumbling.”

According to Wikipedia cuts, scrapes, bruises and stubbed toes are all other minor injuries that can result from flip-flops being worn.

A big part of the problem is there is no support or strap at the back and your foot can easily fall out of the flip flop. To compensate for this the wearer may scrunch their toes around the front strap in an effort to hold on to the poorly designed item of footwear.

It is really amazing how popular flip-flops are. In reality it is a very dangerous piece of footwear. Yet in warm countries, and elsewhere in the summer months, you will see loads of people wearing flip-flops and find them on sale in most shoe shops and in holiday locations in all outlets for tourist merchandise.

I have never seen a warning about them. Of course, I should have trusted my instincts and never bought a pair or wore them, not even if my sandals were ruined.

I like to do a lot of walking but won’t be able to do much for a while now, which is very bad news for me. I have joined the other people with arthritis or disabilities that cause them to have to shuffle along very slowly and render them unable to walk at all in some terrain such as mountainous countryside or on rocky ground.

The only good thing about this horrible experience is that it has taught me never to wear flip-flops again. I will be throwing this pair out now that they have caused me much harm. I will not be at all sad to see them go in my rubbish bin!

Copyright © 2012 Steve Andrews. All Rights Reserved.