ArticleIrish journal of medical science2016
Effect of flip-flops on lower limb kinematics during walking: a cross-sectional study using three-dimensional gait analysis.
Article in Irish journal of medical science, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Kinematics and muscle activation of the lower limb during barefoot and flip-flop running.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Gait Analysis of Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis and Its Correlation with Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index Assessment.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2022Article
- A Scoping Review on Minimum Foot Clearance: An Exploration of Level-Ground Clearance in Individuals with Abnormal Gait.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Lower limb muscle co-contraction and joint loading of flip-flops walking in male wearers.PloS one · 2018Article
- Foot Health Assessment and Problem Identification in a Dominican Batey Community: A Descriptive Study.Journal of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing : official publication of The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses SocietyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFlip-flops are a popular footwear choice in warm weather however their minimalist design offers little support to the foot.
aimTo investigate the effect of flip-flops on lower limb gait kinematics in healthy adults, to measure adherence between the flip-flop and foot, and to assess the effect on toe clearance in swing.
methodsFifteen healthy adults (8 male, mean age 27 years) completed a three-dimensional gait analysis assessment using Codamotion. Kinematic and lower limb temporal-spatial data were captured using the Modified Helen Hayes marker set with additional markers on the hallux and flip-flop sole.
resultsCompared to barefoot walking, there were no differences in temporal-spatial parameters walking with flip-flops. There was an increase in peak knee flexion in swing (mean difference 4.6°, 95 % confidence interval (CI) [-5.8°, -3.4°], p < 0.001) and peak ankle dorsiflexion at terminal swing (mean difference 2°, 95 % CI [-3°, -1°], p = 0.001). Other kinematic parameters were unchanged. Peak separation between foot and flip-flop was 8.8 cm (SD 1.48), occurring at pre-swing. Minimum toe clearance of the hallux in barefoot walking measured 4.2 cm (SD 0.8). Minimum clearance of the flip-flop was 1.6 cm (SD 0.56).
conclusionsHealthy adults adapted well to flip-flops. However, separation of the flip-flop from the foot led to increased knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion in swing, probably to ensure that the flip-flop did not contact the ground and to maximise adherence to the foot. Minimum clearance of the flip-flop was low compared to barefoot clearance. This may increase the risk of tripping over uneven ground.
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