Mix up summer shoes to keep feet happy, healthy

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WPVI) -- There are so many choices in summer shoes.

Which are the best type? Foot doctors say all of them, and none of them.

They say it's better for your feet to mix up your shoes, and not wear one type all the time.

Flip flops and ballet flats are nice for short periods of time.

But because they don't have much support, wearing them too much can lead to knee, hip, and back pain.

Podiatrist Joy Rowland of the Cleveland Clinic explains how, "The arch tends to fall, which causes the legs to rotate inward. Once that knee starts to go, then your hips start to go, so it actually takes your posture and changes your posture."

High heels can cause tightness in the back of your leg and achilles tendon, so Dr. Rowland recommends wearing them sparingly, and mixing your heel heights.

If you switch from heels to flats and get foot cramping, Dr. Rowland says stretching can help over time.

"Sometimes we even recommend that they take their toes and draw out the letters of the alphabet before they get out of bed," she says.

"That will help not only the Achilles tendon, but also all of the intrinsic muscles of the foot," she adds.