If you’re a parent to a high school athlete or you are a regular gym goer, you may have noticed that overly cushioned slide-style sandals have become more popular for people heading off to or returning from athletic activities or exercise. After donning their sport-specific footwear for an extended period, many athletes and exercise enthusiasts opt to slip off their performance footwear and ease into a comfortable and cushioned pair of sandals for the commute home. These shoes have been dubbed “recovery sandals,” and they have become quite popular in recent years. We take a closer look at recovery sandals or recovery slides in today’s blog.

Do You Need A Recovery Sandal?

For the right individual, a recovery sandal or a recovery slide can be a perfect addition to their exercise endeavors. These shoes are often overly cushioned and contoured to take pressure off specific areas of the foot, like the arch or the heel, to protect athletes from straining areas that typically endure a fair amount of stress when they are on their feet for an extended period. Recovery footwear can also be beneficial to upline joints in the ankles, knees and hips, aiding in optimal stress distribution. After an extended standing period or stressful exercise session, your feet deserve to be pampered and protected a bit.

However, it’s typically not a great idea to make these recovery sandals your primary form of footwear. Like most sandals, they don’t offer much protection from the elements, which could lead to cuts, bruises or other injuries. Also, they oftentimes don’t provide great tread, meaning you could be at a heightened risk for slipping in wet conditions. If you’re wearing them out of a locker room or outside in rainy conditions, you’ll want to be careful to avoid a slip and fall injury. Moreover, prolonged wearing of overly cushioned shoes can end up weakening certain structures in the foot that require regular stress and strain to stay strong. In other words, these recovery sandals can be great in short spurts, but they probably shouldn’t be your primary footwear selection.

Finally, it’s worth noting that these recovery sandals should not be viewed as a treatment option. If you’re dealing with foot pain, wearing a protective recovery sandal isn’t going to do much to target the underlying issue. It can provide some mild relief in the form of stress absorption, but eventually you’ll want to be proactive with your treatments in the form of physical therapy or strengthening exercises. Chronic issues should be viewed by a foot and ankle specialist to ensure you are pursuing the right type of treatment for your underlying issue.

For an exercise enthusiast who wants to drive home from the gym in a comfortable shoe or an athlete who wants to slip off their cleats between games, a recovery slide is a wonderful option that can limit strain on an area that has been subjected to elevated levels of stress, but we don’t recommend making these shoes your choice for a full day out on the town. Opt for a more protective and supportive option for extended daily use.

For more information about recovery sandals or how to recover following athletic endeavors, click around on our site or connect with Dr. Silverman today!

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