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Foot Problems Related to Sandals

Wearing sandals may be fashionable, but their effect on your feet can be devastating. According InteliHealth, 90 percent of people who have surgery for common foot disorders are women. Many foot disorders are caused by wearing shoes that don't provide proper support--including sandals. A Framingham Study of foot pain found a correlation between wearing shoes with poor support and foot pain, even later in life.

  1. Plantar Fasciitis

    • Plantar fasciitis, a painful condition involving inflammation of the plantar fascia (a band of connective tissue in the foot), can be caused by wearing shoes with inadequate support. Most sandals do not provide enough support for the arch or bed of the foot, and wearing them for prolonged periods can lead to inflamed and torn ligaments in the bottom of the feet. According to the Mayo Clinic, the sharp stabbing pains affiliated with plantar fasciitis may fade with rest and by wearing shoes with proper support, although it can return when conditions of stress to the foot return.

    Soft Tissue Injuries

    • Because sandals leave much of the foot exposed, sandal wearers are at greater risk of soft tissue injuries like cuts, bruises and blisters, which are vulnerable to infection. Those suffering from autoimmune diseases and diabetes are at greater risk of infection and should wear shoes that cover the entire foot.

    Neuropathic Foot

    • Neuropathies, or nerve-generated pain, can result from wearing poorly fitted sandals. According to the American Diabetes Association, the neuropathic foot is characterized by a loss of nerve function that changes the way the foot functions and can lead to ulceration and severe deformity. This deformity may require amputation. The American Diabetes Association cautions that people with diabetes should not wear sandals because sandals do not protect the foot adequately.

    Achilles Tendinitis

    • Science Daily reports that a biomechanical shock is delivered to the foot each time the heel strikes the ground. Good shoes absorb some of this shock, helping to protect the foot, but sandals can effectively add pressure on the heel and ankle, resulting in Achilles tendinitis. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Achilles tendinitis include pain in the back of the leg and above the heel that gets worse with strenuous activity. The condition can also cause stiffness and a slight swelling near your Achilles tendon. The Mayo Clinic recommends that you see a doctor to treat Achilles tendinitis, but steps you can take at home include reducing your strenuous activity, icing the affected area, and taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. To reduce the stress on your foot or to avoid this problem in the first place, be sure to wear shoes with adequate support, particularly in the arch and heel.

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