Dr. Steven Stummer: Protecting Your Feet During the Summer
By Christine Montanti
Summertime is a season for enjoying outdoor activities, refreshing pools, and walking barefoot on sandy beaches. Many people prefer wearing sandals and flip flops during the warmer weather which can keep their feet cool and dry; however, this type of footwear can potentially harm the lower extremities causing pain, discomfort, and the limitation of daily activities. These issues can worsen if left untreated, and some foot ailments can even develop into infections and viruses and can be dangerous for individuals who have diabetes
We asked renowned podiatric surgeon Dr. Steven Stummer, who has extensive medical training in reconstructive podiatric surgery, limb salvage, and sports medicine, to discuss treatments and preventative measures for painful foot conditions caused by wearing flip flops, sandals, and walking barefoot.
Do you recommend wearing flip flops during the summer?
?Flip flops should only be worn at the beach, around pools, and in both indoor and outdoor gym showers for protection against infective organisms as well as some foreign objects. They offer no protection from the sun and environmental dangers and can leave the foot exposed to pollutants and dirt. In addition, they don’t have arch support which can force the toes to grip the flip flop often causing cramping as well as an increased risk for hammertoes.
Are sandals a better alternative shoe to wear during the warmer season?
Sandals have some arch support, but the long-term effects of walking in unsupportive shoe gear can be thedevelopment or worsening of bunions, hammertoes, pinched nerves, heel pain and tendonitis. Common injuries often seen are stubbed toes, broken toenails, cuts, scrapes, poison ivy and invasive foreign bodies.
What about walking barefoot on the beach?
Walking barefoot can lead to many injuries including, but not limited to, injury from foreign bodies, glass, splinters, metal objects and the virus which causes warts. Additional repercussions can be exposure to the fungus which causes Athlete’s Foot and fungal toenails, and/or bacterial infections such as tetanus, abscess, and more superficial infections. Exposure to harsh temperatures can also result in burns from the sun, liquids, and hot pavement
Sports specific sneakers are the best to wear to prevent injuries. Many people will benefit from custom made functional orthotics with specific prescriptions. Injuries such as, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and bursitis can all be prevented from wearing custom made orthotics.
Dr. Steven Stummer practices in three locations: Northport, Melville and Bellmore. He treats foot ailments such as bunions, hammertoes, plantar fasciitis, and various types of wound care. For appointments and consultations visit Dr. Stummer at his Northport location: 220 Fort Salonga Road, Northport, New York 11768, or at his Melville location: 180 Walt Whitman Road #120, Melville, NY. 11747
Dr. Steven J. Stummer DPM, FAPWCA
Podiatric Surgery & Sports Medicine
Melville – Bellmore – Northport. 516-449-1842
