Students have to walk miles across the ISU campus every day — each step potentially leading to aching feet or a problematic back.

Back problems are important considerations when it comes to choosing between shoes and flip-flops in the morning since flip-flops could eventually lead to a bad back.

Dr. Rick Elbert, Ames resident and owner of Elbert Chiropractic Clinic, 622 Burnett Ave., said sandals and flip-flops have been in the media a lot lately because of their association with back problems.

“When you’re wearing sandals or flip-flops, it changes the way you walk,” he said.

Many of Elbert’s patients have told him they enjoy wearing sandals because they feel good, but that there are no sandals available as an alternative to shoes.

“From what I’ve seen none of them give decent arch support,” Elbert said.

Wearing sandals changes the stress on your knees, Elbert said, and could irritate a disc injury.

“As long as you’re wearing something that’s loose and doesn’t fit like a shoe, you’re setting yourself up for a problem,” Elbert said.

According to a June 2008 ABC News article, titled “Flip-Flops Can Cause Long-Term Health Problems,” “podiatrists say that summer’s favorite footwear is responsible for more health problems than any other type of shoes, even high heels.”

Dr. Rock Positano from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York was featured in the article and said wearing flip-flops causes the foot to work harder, so “people tend to develop and overuse injuries such as tendonitis, or … lower leg, knee, hip and back problems.”

Maria Muntz, junior in psychology, said she walks at least a mile a day on campus, and adding up to at least five miles per week.

Most often, Muntz wears flip-flops and tennis shoes around campus, as well as on the weekends when going out.

“If I wear heels, it’s only for an hour, and then I have my flip-flops in my bag,” Muntz said.

She said she has never been concerned with the damage flip-flops can cause for her back because she is young.

“I don’t think I really have to think about it too much yet,” Muntz said.

Although there are options out there to help in supporting the foot, Elbert said these may help a little bit but not a lot.

Elbert said the best type of footwear out there right now is Foot-So-Port, which has built-in arch support.