London: Sure, they’re treasured for their comfort, rubberiness and the fact you can wash them in the dishwasher. They’re also equally popular with toddlers and celebrities, but – put plainly – they’re ugly. And many of us just can’t accept them.
But fans of the unsightly plastic shoe have maintained that the comfort of Crocs outweighs their appearance. Right? No. Turns out that’s wrong.
New evidence has been unveiled to finally help the anti-Crocs side win the battle, with doctors saying they’re actually bad for your feet, The Huffington Post reports.
The rubber clogs that started out in 2002 as boater-floaters for Jimmy Buffett types in Florida but have now sold more than 300 million pairs in 90 countries.
Crocs are affordable, and at this point, classic … but what do podiatrists — you know, actual doctors who want you to live your best life — think about them?
Several podiatrists were consulted on whether the shoes were actually good for your health, and they all resoundingly said no, citing that the main issues with Crocs are the fact that the open back with only a loose strap leaves your heel and shank – the supportive structure between the heel and the toe – unstable.
“Unfortunately Crocs are not suitable for all-day use,” Dr. Megan Leahy, a Chicago-based podiatrist with the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute, told HuffPost. While she granted that they “offer nice arch support,” she added that the real reason you shouldn’t wear them over long periods of time is that “these shoes do not adequately secure the heel. When the heel is unstable, toes tend to grip which can lead to tendinitis, worsening of toe deformities, nail problems, corns and calluses. The same thing can happen with flip flops or any backless shoes as the heel is not secured.”
Dr. Alex Kor, the president of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, told HuffPost that the most important feature in any shoe is the shank, the supportive structure between the heel and the toe. “Patients are more likely to have foot pain if their shoes bend in the shank,” said Kor.
“The only two types of patients that may benefit from wearing Crocs are patients that have a very high arch or those who suffer from excessive edema of their legs and ankle,” Kor said. “But, under no circumstances can I suggest wearing Crocs 8 to 10 hours per day.”
Dr. Leahy also noted that she’s observed people tend to trip and fall more while wearing Crocs than any other type of shoe.
So, while they’re suitable for very short walks – such as from the shower to your room or from your chair to the pool – they aren’t suitable for all day or everyday use.
Basically, for anyone who ever refused to like Crocs – you were right all along.