After beginning physical therapy for my ailments, I offered my theory to my therapist, and he agreed that with my weak arches, wearing flip flops constantly could have been a culprit in the pain I was experiencing.

According to Lawrence Rubin, DPM, “The flimsy construction of flip flops provides zero support to the feet — something that is unhealthy to almost all feet.” He encourages the regular use light-weight athletic shoes with built-in arch supports. Timothy M. Axe, DPM agrees. He offers the good, the bad, and the ugly on flip flops:

The good: flip flops provide basic foot protection to the bottom (plantar) foot. They may help prevent catching fungal infection and warts in public showers. Flip flops are good for short periods of time, quick errands, and periods when the wearer is not doing a lot of walking.

The Bad – flip flops offer no support for the arch, no shock absorption, no heel cushion, and not much protection on the top and sides of the foot. They lead to greater risk of toe injuries, puncture wounds, cuts from foreign bodies, and possible insect or snake bites. They are not good for sports. Flip flops accentuate any biomechanical deficiencies of the foot. They may also affect balance and may lead to falls particularly in older patients.

The Ugly: There are an increasing number of cases of plantar fasciitis (arch/heel pain) and tendonitis in the foot and ankle, particularly in the 15-25 year old age range, where typically we do not these problems as much.

In case you weren’t convinced yet to ditch your $5 flip flops from Old Navy just yet, Dr. Stephen Arbetters, a podiatrist in Newton, Mass, added:

“In a normal flip-flop the front of your foot has to work harder to keep the flip flop on. That can lead to tendonitis, arch pain and hammer toes.” This means that even some of the flip flops that offer arch support may not necessarily be much better for your feet. Just because they feel comfortable, doesn’t mean they are providing the support and protection you need.

“For all the shoes seductive sponginess, 99 percent of them provide no support. So they can stress other joints, causing pain in the knees and back. Flip-flops also don’t absorb shock and they are unstable which makes it easier for the wearer to turn an ankle.” Arbetters sees many patients who wear flip-flops with conditions such as plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of the foot.

Podiatrists weren’t the only people I spoke with who had an opinion on the matter. I also heard from Aliesa George, a Pilates instructor and personal trainer who spends her days working with people to improve their posture, strengthen their core, and create proper muscle function through simple foot care exercises, awareness about good shoe choices, and improved shoe tying techniques.

George reiterated the notion that flip flops offer no support, and added to the discussion more on the mechanics:

“Most feet that I see wearing flip flops are rolled in at the ankle which causes the arches to continue to drop or flatten to the floor. Over time this reduces the mobility of the ankle, and will lead to knee, hip, and back issues because the base of support (the bottom of the feet) are not functioning and being held in proper alignment for the rest of the bones to stack correctly on top of them. Since our muscles attach to the bones and act as a lever and pulley system, if the bones aren’t lined up correctly, the lever system for correct and proper muscle firing for exercise and everyday movement will be compromised. If this compromise occurs daily, with every step you take, all you are doing is reinforcing bad posture, body alignment, and improper muscle firing patterns for movement. With time, the ONLY thing that can occur is pain and injury.”

I personally thought all of my problems could be solved by switching from flip flops to Mephisto Helen sandal with support for arches and a cork footbed. But as Aliesa George could probably have told me, a little extra support in the arch was not enough. “The toe muscles are working incorrectly with every step you take in flip flops (this holds true for every pair of strapless shoes.) The big toe and second toe are constantly squeezing together to hold on to the shoe. Not only do the first two toes squeeze together to hold a flip flop on the foot, but all the toes curl under to “grab” the shoe and keep it on during the swing through phase of each stride. This is the exact opposite of what the toes should be doing when you take a step!”

While George reminded me that she is not a shoe expert, she suggested that if you do want to wear sandals, look for options with a strap that goes around the ankle to help hold the shoe on the foot. She has also written a book on foot care exercises called Fantastic Feet. You can also purchase a combination kit that comes with the book and all the tools you need to do the exercises.

So now that you are thoroughly depressed (if you’re like me) over the prospect of eliminating an icon of summer, there is a silver lining. First, Dr. Jonah Mullens, a podiatrist with the Pacific Foot and Ankle Institute in Palo Alto, Ca., offered an everything in moderation approach suggesting “you can wear something a little less than sensible 20% of the time if you commit to comfortable shoes the other 80%.”

For that 20% of the time you still really want to wear flip flops, based on my research, there are definitely some that are better than others.

The makers of Beech Yoga Sandals cite Prevention Magazine which touted the sandal as a “better Flip-Flop for the way the sandal promotes balance and stability.” Owner and creator Gayle Trenberth says “Yoga Sandals® stay secure on the foot while walking and allow the tendons and muscles in the feet to work in freedom with proper heel support. Yoga Sandals® help keep feet flexible and enforce a basic principle of yoga which is to spread the toes to achieve optimal grounding and proper body alignment to master the standing poses.”

Some other brands that offer a little more cushioning and support support are Rainbow Sandals, Reef Sandals, and the FitFlop Thong Sandal the makers of which actually claim gives you a workout while you walk.

If you want to take a step in the right direction, but aren’t ready to close your feet in, try sandals with ankle straps like these Merrell Savannah sandals or Dansko Women’s Serafina Sandal

If you’re like me, and ready to throw the towel in all together on sandals, but still want a light weight, cute summer shoe, try these Privo Acacia mary jane shoes. I have a pair, and they are really comfortable and look great with jeans and shorts, and even some of my sportier skirts.

At this point in my life, I have more of an appreciation of my body and am interested in doing what I can to take care of it. I figure I don’t need to accelerate the decline of my body by wearing shoes that don’t offer the support I need to maintain a strong and healthy back and legs.

I am madly in love with this Peony Ballet Shoe from Born. Born shoes are known for comfort, but they don’t sacrifice style in the process. I love the fun colors these shoes come in (though this radish color is definitely my favorite), and the flower on the toe is just adorable. I have to admit, I found the shoes first, and then built the outfit around it — or rather, Eddie Bauer built the outfit, but I approve. Of course denim jackets like this one are a dime a dozen, and can be found for much less at Target. But the adorable stretch poplin skirt is great for spring and summer.

If you saw my post last summer about how much I love to wear dresses in the summer, you’ll know why I go crazy over Eddie Bauer’s selection of dresses. They offer a flattering cut, and I love the colors. Of all of them though, I think this faux wrap printed dress is my favorite and definitely in this orchid color.

Eddie Bauer may not always have the lowest prices, but their clothes are durable and the styles stand the test of time. You really couldn’t go wrong with any of these pieces. And if you’d like to indulge my shoe habit and get me those cute Born shoes, let me know!  :)

Ok, so I do admit, I tend to be attracted to the same styles which comes from my strong need to balance comfort with fashion. But I tried to branch out with a couple of offerings, and I really hope you see something you like.

MBT Walk in Orange

MBT shoes (a.k.a. “the anti-shoe”) … they’re expensive. They are hardly fashionable (though they sometimes reach acceptable). In fact, they are downright weird looking. When I first saw them as I walked past The Walking Store at the mall one day, I thought, “Who in their right mind would wear those?” They reminded me of orthotic shoes, but without insurance covering the high cost of them, I thought surely no one would shell out the big bucks for these shoes. And what the heck does MBT stand for anyway? The manufacturers of the shoe, Swiss Masai named the shoe Masai Barefoot Technology (which of course is a mouthful, and thus MBT) because it supposedly emulates the nomadic walking habits of the Masai tribes of Africa. The company touts all sorts of benefits that come from wearing the shoe:

• Activates neglected muscles
• Tone and shape the body
• Improves posture and gait
• Can help with back, hip, leg and foot problesm
• Can help with joint, muscle, ligament and tendon injuries
• Reduces tress on knee and hip joints
• MBT activates the whole body

Ok, seriously… so are they trying to say that wearing these shoes will give me a workout? I certainly wasn’t going to be fooled.

Fast forward a few months later, when I met a woman who was wearing a pair of MBT shoes. I immediately noticed them, not because I thought she looked ridiculous in them, but because I was surprised at how cute they were. I asked her about them, and she was more than happy to tell me all about them. She actually admitted to buying them (along with a second pair after she decided she loved them) because she believed the claims about toning and shaping. And she felt like she was seeing results. I was a little skeptical, but she insisted that they were not only comfortable, but effective in their claims. Of course, since she likely spent over $500 on her two pairs, it would be hard to admit they were just another pair of shoes. I have to admit, my conversation with this women piqued my curiousity, and I soon found myself in The Walking Store trying a pair on.

My first observation about the MBT shoes (besides the hefty price tag) was that they are quite heavy. No wonder they give your legs a work out. You’re walking around with 5 pound weights on your feet! I walked around a bit in the store and actually could sense the muscles that were being engaged in my upper legs. I started to believe that wearing these could give add a little something extra to your exercise routine. But that is not why I was ultimately considering the shoes. For about a year and a half now, I have suffered from problems with my lower back and hamstring. After unsuccessful physical therapy and chiropractic treatments, I was beginning to get desperate for anything that might help alleviate my pain. Though I did not end up buying the shoes from The Walking Store, I immediately checked out Zappos.com to see if they carried them at a lower price. Luckily, I found a pair for MBT Walk shoes on sale for $189.95 — a $60 difference from the price of the same shoe at the walking store. The only downside at that point (besides the fact that it was still more than I have ever paid for any other pair of shoes) was that above a size 10, the pair that I wanted did not come in half sizes, and since I had already discovered in the store that a size 10 (which is what I usually wear) was too small, so I had to order a size 11. (They seem to offer most shoes in 10.5 now.)

When they arrived a day or two later (Zappos generally has very fast and free shipping), I immediately tried them on. They were a bit big, but not so much that I couldn’t wear them comfortably, even if I do look like I have clown feet. I wore them for long walks, but I wasn’t wearing them all the time, mostly because it was summer and I refused to wear them with shorts. I just couldn’t go that far in sacrificing fashion for comfort. Instead I wore sandals and flip flops all summer, exacerbating my leg and lower back problems. They ended up in my closet nearly forgotten.

I was almost ready to sell them on eBay when my pain, now diagnosed officially as sciattica became worse than ever, and more concentrated in my lower back. I decided to give my shoes one last chance before getting rid of them. Much to my shock, my pain was alleviated almost immediately when wearing the shoes. I even had a recent episode where the pain was so bad, I couldn’t walk without a limp (I can blame myself for wearing flats all day the day before). But then I put my MBT shoes on, and spent the day at a museum in the city, walking around virtually pain free.

So, are the shoes worth it? Well, as it turns out, for me, they were. I am even at this point contemplating buying another pair, since they offer a few more styles which better match my own. (I’d like to try that 10.5 to see if they fit better.) They even have boots now which I would definitely wear if it were not for their $390 price tag.

Curves Toning Sneaker

If you are desperate to try a pair and you don’t have it in your budget to spend $150+, there is a cheaper alternative out there. Avon.com carries a pair of shoes put out by the fitness chain Curves, called the Toning Sneaker. For comparison’s sake, I bought them, and quite frankly, you get what you pay for. They don’t have the solid feel of the MBT shoes, instead giving the wearer the feeling of cheaply made shoes. They don’t offer any cushioning, but they do seem to have similar mechanics to the MBT shoes, and therefore may offer some of the same benefits. I won’t be wearing mine again, but for someone with fewer requirements in a shoe, these might be worth a try if you are curious about their potential benefits.

Ultimately, I don’t know if the MBT shoes live up to all the claims Swiss Masai makes about them, but I honestly believe they have made a difference for me and am looking forward to purchasing my next pair.