Sandals, Slippers, and Foot Pain: A Common but Overlooked Issue in Dubai

Sandals and slippers are deeply integrated into daily life in Dubai. While they feel comfortable, many designs provide minimal arch support and heel stability.

What happens biomechanically?

Research shows that flat, unsecured footwear increases intrinsic foot muscle activity as the toes grip the shoe to prevent slipping. This leads to increased load through:

• Calf muscles

• Achilles tendon

• Plantar fascia

(Shroyer & Weimar, 2010)

Over time, repeated loading without adequate recovery or support may contribute to conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy.

Important clarification

Sandals are not “bad.”The issue is duration, support, and total walking volume.

Practical recommendations

• Use sandals with arch support• Prefer heel straps for longer walks• Limit long-distance walking in flat slippers

References

• Shroyer, J. F., & Weimar, W. H. (2010). Footwear biomechanics and muscle activity.• Cheung, J. T. M. et al. (2006). Plantar fascia loading during gait.