Summer Foot Problems

While Melbourne summer may not always be hot, it does often see people using more people trading the Ugg Boots for the Havaianas/thongs when ducking down to the shops – or ditch the shoes completely! Over the hotter months, this can create some problems.

In this series we will cover 4 main topics:

1. Are Thongs bad for my feet?

2. What problems can occur if I wear Thongs too much?

3. What SHOULD I wear all summer?

4. Summer skin problems

Are thongs bad for my feet?

Thongs (the kind that go under your feet) are an Aussie icon and the favourite form of footwear whenever the weather is warm enough.

While a pair of thongs have a time & place for good use, using them for hours and days on end can cause large amounts of strain (and even injury) to feet that are used to spending more than half the year in closed-toed, laced shoes.

The main problem with the classic Thongs is that they only stick to your foot if you clench your toes (even just a little).
Most shoes with a heel backing/counter or buckle will move with your heel as it lifts, while some sandals with a midfoot strap will lift soon after. However, thongs or thin-strapped sandals, there is only grip at the front of your foot – so they might slip off if you don’t use your toes to hold onto them.

Combine that with the lack of shock absorption or arch support, and the classic Thongs are a common cause of foot & ankle pains for many Melburnians in the summertime.

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