ERGONOMICS IN FLIP FLOPS

PRESENTED BYHeemaal Kaul Manish Srivastava Heemaal Kaul

FLIP FLOP

Introduction
Although feet were designed to walk barefoot on earths natural surfaces (grass, sand or gravel) , they were not prepared to endure the concrete asphalt and steel that covers landscapes today. Whether you are standing still or in motion your feet are your first point of contact with the ground. The way your feet are positioned provides the foundation for the bodys skeletal alignment. A flat shoes provides little arch or lateral support and even slight shifts instance over time could lead to misalignment, causing pain in the knees, hips and back.

Foot Types
Foot types There are three types of foot Pes curve Normal arch Pes planus- (flat foot)

The curvature is very less and these people are not advised to wear flip flops as they are more prone to health hazards related to muscles and tendons in the feet.

Walking postures

Foot anthropometric study

Continued..
Shoe Size (UK) 5 6 7 Inches 41316 518 512 Centimetres 12 13 14

8
9 10 11 12 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

51316
618 612 61316 718 712 71316 818 812 81316 918 912 91316

15
15.5 16.5 17.5 18 19.1 20 20.6 21.5 22.4 23 24 25

Feet tend to shift from sole. If they shift out , it is less protected and the heels wouldnt necessarily stay on the sole , it shifts and goes in opposite direction causing weird walking postures.

Dust might get accumulated in between toes and people can get allergy and infections. it is important to clean ones feet frequently.

What are flip flops?

Flip flops are a type of open toed footwear typically worn in casual situations such as outside or at the beach. They consist of a flat sole held loosely on the foot by a Y shape strap that passes between the first and the second toe. The name flip flop originated of the sound it made by slapping between the sole of the foot and the floor while walking.

Materials
Flip flops are made from a wide variety of materials. Material used are rubber , foam , plastic , leather , suede and even fabric. Flip flops are made of plastic foams , vinyl or polyurethane , special woods or a combination of different raw materials depending on kind. Some use different material in one pair to add creativity and class. This pair up is very impressive since they are more saleable rather than the plain ones. However one should be very careful and conscious about the material used because some of these can be very hazardous particularly when subjected to great heat and direct fire.

Popularity
Flip flops are most comfortable and easy to wear footwear. Its a casual wear. Wearing flip flops is the next best thing to going bare foot. Feet would be exposed , so they feel cool , free to breathe and wont stink when you wear closed toe shoes all day. It is best suited for summers and places where it is mostly warm , it is considered to be the staple footwear. Flip flop started to become popular among teenagers and college students especially girls. The main reasons for its popularity can be that it is comfortable , simple design making it really easy to slip them on and off and no hassles with tying shoe laces. They are very cheap too.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Comfortable Easy to wear. You just need to slip it on. Available for any occasion; casual , fancy. More breathing space Airy. Sweat less gives a feeling close to being bare foot. Disadvantages Strain in walking Feet can get really dusty and dirty Chances of sun burns and rashes if worn in scorching heat If strap is tight, shoe bite and rashes due to fiction and heat. The sound it creates while getting down the stairs is very irritating.

Health hazards
Walking for long periods in flip flops can be very tough on the feet , resulting in pain in ankles , legs and feet. A study said that flip flop wearers took shorter steps and these heels hit the ground with less vertical force that those wearing athletic shoes. Individuals with flat feet or other foot issues are advised to wear shoes with better support Since they have spongy sole , the foot rolls further inward than normal when it hits the ground- an action called over pronation , which is responsible for many foot problems and over pronation may also lead to flat feet. Ankle sprains or broken bones are also common injuries due to stepping off a curb or tumbling- the ankle bends but the flip flops neither hold on to support it.

Flip flops actually change the way your foot strikes the ground and alter mechanics at knee, hip and back. Since flip flops change the way the foot strikes the ground, it ultimately changes ones knee response to each step and it puts additional stress on ligaments , muscles and tendons in the knee.

Continued
Flip flops can cause over use of tendons in the feet , resulting in tendonitis . the lack of an ankle strap that holds the foot in place is also a common injury as this causes wearers to scrunch their toes in an effort to keep the flip flops in place , leading to tendonitis. The open toed nature of the thongs may result in cuts, scrapes , bruises or stubbed toes. For people with diabetes , who often have poor circulation and feeling in their feet , wearing flip flops can expose them not only to injury but infection too. Those with balance issues may find it hard to feel secure while wearing rubbery flip flops.

Continued
Those suffering from obesity, spotting, the unstructured shoes can add strain to feet that are already stressed with carrying extra weight. Flip flops are opted for every occasion now , and teenagers tend to use them most of the time. This habit can lead to many health issues. The arch of the foot is over stressed because there is no under line support from a shoe. All the body weight gets put on that arch (plantas fascisticinflammation of the soft tissues on the bottom of the feet).

Effects of environment
Environment and weather has a major role in the usage of flip flops. During summers it is preferred due to the choice of exposing your feet, and your feet sweat less due to space for breathing. During winters or cold climate, flip flops are generally avoided yet few youngsters dare to wear them and wear them with toe socks. During rainy season it is avoided as it splashes water (dirt) all over the lower part of your leg. It happens due to the slamming of the slipper or ground and heels. If one is wearing a denim, it can spoil clothing.
While walking feet and the flip flops tend to go in two different directions

Importance of using right shoe size

IF THE SHOE IS LARGER THAN YOUR SIZE Your feet wouldnt be placed in the flip flop always, it will tend to move out of the sole which can lead to cuts and bruises. There are more chances of the user tumbling or falling It will be very difficult to walk and balance If they are loose you will feel compelled to grip the thong strap between your toes with each step. Doing this for a longer time can lead to maladies such as blisters and hammer toes.

Continued
IF THE FLIP FLOP SIZE IS SMALLER THAN YOUR FEET It can cause shoe bite, rashes and itching It will be painful and very uncomfortable to walk if it very tight If the heels are peeping out of the sole, there are high chances of blisters, cuts and scarps During really hot summers, it can tend to cause skin infections below the strap, due to friction, heat and sweat

Ergonomical issues
Walking on for long period can be tough on feet, resulting in pain in the ankles, legs and feet. Flip flop wearers take shorter steps and heels the ground with less vertical force than those wearing athletic shoes. Overuse of tendons in ones feet results in tendonitis. Lack of ankle strap leads to injuries Scrunching of toes in order to keep flip flop in place. Ankle sprain is a common injury Frictional issues by the straps- rubbing during walking Open toed nature makes the toes vulnerable to cuts, scarps and bruises

Solutions

These two protrusions are given such that it would clasp the calcaneus bone when one slips into the flip flops. Cushioned padding comfortable wearing. This also ensures that the heel doesnt move out of the slipper for

Cushion support on the base to provide arc support which reduces strain while walking.

This is provided for grip.

This feature is to reduce the problem of more stress while working as the sole would be attached to the foot.

For arc support and comfortable wearing

This is elevated so that the toes are protected. Sometimes there is a tendency to hit the toes against table , wall etc.

Broader straps with cushion padding below for comfort wearing. Plastic or rubber would cause blackening of skin.

The straps are made broader with cushion padding below for comfortable wearing.

The form of the strap is such that the smaller toes wouldnt hit anything while walking as it is enclosed.

The knot is made of soft leather or fabric which has elastic in it.

When someone wears the slippers it stretches and rightly fit the feet. This avoids the flip flops to become loose. If one wears loose flip flops , one tends to take longer foot steps and this causes strain in heel and backbone.

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