Sandals, Flip-Flops in the Summer Can Lead to Foot, Ankle Pain in the Fall

While the transition from summer to fall brings about colorful leaves and trips to the pumpkin patch, it also brings about foot and ankle pain for many women.

As the seasons change, so does the footwear. The switch can reveal problems created over time by a lack of support.

According to Vandan Patel, M.D., a fellowship-trained, orthopedic surgeon with The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy, some patients develop foot and ankle pain in the fall from wearing less supportive shoes, like sandals and flip-flops, in the summer.

Often, women's shoes can be narrow, pointy and flat—lacking support and squeezing their feet.

“As we transition into fall wear, usually closed-toe shoes sometimes can be constricting. Patients will complain of issues that have developed over the summer from those less supportive shoes, such as plantar-fascia-type pain, heel pain, pain in their arch,” Dr. Patel said.

There are easy ways to help alleviate the pain, though. Dr. Patel said to take out the shoe inserts and add insoles, gel insoles, orthotics or pads to provide cushioning for the heel and support for the arch of the foot, as well as to alleviate pain in the balls of your feet.

Dr. Patel noted that wearing a good pair of sneakers can also offset some of those issues. There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to high-top shoes versus low-tops. The stability comes from the shoe itself, not the height of it.

View Mercy foot-and-ankle orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vandan Patel’s interview regarding women’s foot pain issues due to changes in footwear.