by Krystal Zaragoza
Daily Lobo
Summertime means that nearly everyone, including UNM students, is trying to keep cool by slipping out of tennis shoes and into sandals. What many people don't know is that wearing this type of footwear, especially flip-flops, can cause painful foot problems.
Although flip-flops are comfortable and convenient, they do not support the feet for the extensive walking that many do at UNM, said Beverly Kloeppel, a physician at the Student Health Center.
"The disadvantages are that they don't usually provide arch support, no protection for things being dropped, irritations between the toes and fissures along heels," Kloeppel said.
These problems, she said, usually develop from the openness of the sandal and she added that they should not be worn on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time.
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Sophomore pediatrics major Janell Moya said the reason she wears flip-flops is because they are comfortable and are easy to put on and take off. She also said that wearing flip-flops have never hurt her feet and that she will continue to wear them until they do.
There are some advantages to flip-flops and Kloeppel said she even wears them around the house on occasion. When patients have surgery on a toe or foot; doctors at the health center usually recommend a flip-flop type shoe because it doesn't put pressure on toes, Kloeppel said.
Flip-flops are a good idea for athletes or people who use communal showers to protect from bacteria and fungus, she said.
UNM non-degree student Sumner Williams said that he doesn't wear flip-flops because they don't stay on his feet, but instead wears Teva sport sandals.
"I can see the arch support on my feet," Williams said.
Tanya First, the area manager at Buffalo Exchange clothing store on Central Avenue, said she doesn't think people really care about the negative effects of flip-flops.
"In general flip-flops are pretty popular," she said. "I doubt most people know that information. I don't think that it would really affect people at all."
First said one reason for the sandals' popularity are their low cost. She said the prices of flip-flops in her store as well as in competitors range from $4.50 to around $20.
Flip-flops, even with the information known about the detrimental effects to the foot, are still a hit in stores such as Buffalo Exchange where shoppers are not worried about the medical facts effecting consumers' love for short-term comfort and expediency.
