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.
