A Podiatrist Reveals Why These Recovery Shoes Are Really Popular

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Recently, HuffPost consulted the older folks in our audience on their most comfortable summer sandals . Our interest was piqued when several responses highlighted one shoe that came with claims of reduced joint stress and plantar fasciitis relief.

This wasn’t the first time that the recovery footwear brand Oofos had come across our desks. In fact, the company was one of the top breakout searches on Google in the month of June, according to Google Trends .

Fashion and culture writer Emily Kirkpatrick wrote in a recent newsletter that her “life has been forever changed for the better” thanks to the brand’s unisex “Ooriginal” flip-flop.

Curious to find out what the hype was all about, we reached out to multi-board certified podiatrist Dr. Mark Mendeszoon , who is a physician spokesperson  for the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and an expert in sports medicine and footwear.

Mendeszoon explained that recovery shoes are a specific type of footwear that contour to the foot’s arches, offer a significant amount of cushioning and are designed to allow the foot to recover from a strenuous workout or being confined for a period of time.

“Oofos is a brand of recovery shoes that has really focused on the science of foot and ankle by mechanics. They found their niche with materials to help with people with foot issues,” Mendeszoon said, adding that it’s one of the two top  brands that he personally recommends to his own patients.

Oofos — which has received the APMA seal of acceptance for products that are deemed beneficial for foot health — uses a proprietary footbed and foam material in the construction of their footwear that’s designed to absorb shock, reduce strain on joints and assist with active recovery. It’s a technology that the brand claims absorbs 37% more impact than traditional footwear foam materials.

“Because they are focused on recovery, that’s [how] the majority of their shoes are made, and therefore they’re not trying to do everything and make every type of shoe. They can [just] focus on design, engineering, and materials,” Mendeszoon said.

The brand offers a huge range of designs and styles for both men and women such as sandals , clogs , sneakers , platforms and even slippers . All of them are machine-washable and designed to minimize odor thanks to the closed-cell foam material.

Oofos’ most popular option is the Ooriginal flip-flop , which comes in several colors, gender-neutral sizing and was the first sandal that started the company’s reputation as a trusted name in recovery footwear.

Mendeszoon said that recovery sandals specifically allow the small intrinsic muscles of the feet, as well as the extrinsic muscles of the lower leg, to work in a more natural environment. According to him, this can be a particularly beneficial relief from the confining designs of traditional closed toed shoes.

On the other hand, he said that closed toe and heel designs will take less toe-gripping effort to keep the shoe on, which is a motion that may cause muscle imbalances over time. For this reason, closed recovery shoe styles may be better for anyone that does a lot of walking or wants to wear their recovery shoes for longer periods of time.

“Regardless, it is recommended that both recovery sandals and shoes are only utilized for a fraction of the day for anyone who is on their feet all day long [or post-activity],” Mendeszoon said.

In case the professional endorsement of an expert isn’t enough to sway you in your recovery footwear decision making, take a look at just some of the promising reviews from verified Oofos buyers down below or shop any of the most popular styles from any of the retailers above.

Promising Oofos reviews:

“So comfortable the minute I put them on. I occasionally have flares of tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, and these are just what the ‘doctor’ ordered! ” — Lisa E.

“Out of all thong sandals I’ve purchased through other companies by far this sandal is THE BEST!! and never felt anything like it and will definitely purchase more , my feet are on cloud NINE!!!! AMAZING!!!” — TLanya G.

“These are amazing! They stopped my foot pain from plantar fasciitis and relieved my knee pain! I highly recommend to anyone on their feet a lot.” — Wendy I.

“This is my second pair of the thong sandals! I have very difficult feet and I needed something for summer that had great arches and room for my bunion on the right foot and soft enough for the left foot after surgery. They are so soft and squishy, I literally wear them 24/7! You won’t be disappointed!” — Bonnie P.

“The pain in my heels from plantar fasciitis was so bad that I could barely walk. Since using these sandals I have no pain and can walk again. They are the most comfortable sandals I have ever used. I will never buy any other sandal. I wish OOFOS made insoles for my shoes with the same material/technology as the sandals.” — Stewart F.

“My husband is a diabetic and sometimes has trouble with neuropathy. These shoes have been a Godsend. I also have a pair and love mine. Thank you so much for making such a superior product!” — Krista L.