A Physical Therapist's Guide to Choosing the Best Summer Sandals
You'll probably spend a lot of time in the sun this summer. You deserve to enjoy yourself, but that doesn't mean you should skimp on footwear. Unfortunately, many people choose sandals that don't support their feet properly, causing them pain and discomfort over time. To help you avoid these issues and find the best pair of summer sandals for your needs, here are some tips from a seasoned physical therapist.
Always measure your feet.
It is important to measure your feet and try on different brands before purchasing a pair of sandals. You can do this at home or in a store. To measure, simply stand on a piece of paper and trace around your foot with a pen or pencil.
Then, measure the length from heel to toe in centimeters (cm) using a ruler or caliper tool. Or visit a shoe store and use their shoe sizer for an accurate measurement. If you're between sizes go up one!
There are many factors that affect whether or not shoes will fit well on your foot--and those factors don't always have anything to do with how long or wide those shoes are supposed to be. Certain straps might dig into your heel on one foot but not the other, for example. Check out Veronica’s YouTube video describing proper fit and proper measuring.
If The Shoe Fits
If you have to press your toes into your shoes to keep them on, they are NOT a good fit and can cause long-term damage to your feet.
The first rule of selecting a good pair of sandals is that they should not require any effort from the wearer to stay on the foot. If you have to adjust or readjust your sandal every few minutes, it's probably too tight and needs to be replaced. And pay attention to the action your toes are conducting when you raise your foot to walk. Do your toes curl down to keep the shoe on? The best-fitting shoes are those that fit snugly enough that they don't need constant adjustment but also aren't so loose that they fall off easily either.
The second thing to look for when choosing your summer footwear is comfort; after all, if your feet aren't happy then neither will be your mind! Your feet need space in order for them not only to feel comfortable but also to move freely so as not to inhibit circulation around them.
Avoid Flip-Flops
Flip-flops, or sandals with a flat sole, are great for casual wear. However, they require you to use your foot musculature to help keep the flip flop on your foot instead of doing their job of assisting with the propulsion of your body— walking! This can lead to foot and back problems like plantar fasciitis (a common cause of heel pain) as well as general discomfort and pain when you're wearing them all day long.
If you want to avoid these issues while still getting some sun on your feet this summer, opt for something with a bit more arch support--like these cute Merrells!
What Does A ‘Good’ Sandal Mean ?
Sandals should have a strap across the arch and heel, which helps keep your feet in alignment. The strap will prevent your toes from curling and keep them from getting jammed, which can cause pain or injury.
If you have flat feet, look for a sandal with an additional supportive strap that goes around each ankle. This extra support helps prevent overpronation (a common problem among people with flat feet).
Good Footwear Will Help You Avoid Foot Pain
If you know how to measure your feet and find the right pair of sandals, it's easy to avoid foot pain (which can lead to back pain) during the summer months. You should always measure your feet, and try on different brands and styles of sandals until you find one that fits perfectly. Avoid flip-flops at all costs; instead, look for a good arch support strap across both sides of the arch as well as across the heel area which will keep your foot aligned properly while walking around town or even just sitting around in these comfortable shoes!
Veronica Paquette – PT, ATRIC, PRC
Veronica served several rotations throughout the PT department for the first ten years of her career at UVM Medical Center. She worked in acute care, orthopedics, subacute rehab, general outpatients, a work conditioning program, and the aquatic therapy program. Her time at UVM provided Veronica with an in-depth generalist PT background. In 2000 she opened a local private practice, which was known as Essex Aquatic & Rehab Center. In 2003 she was the first in Vermont to install two HydroWorx therapy pools. The innovation that these pools offer provides patients with the technology to expedite their physical therapy progress. 2017 brought on an exciting change to her practice: Essex Aquatic and Rehab's merger with Dr. Tiffany Renaud's Chiropractic and Physical Therapy office in South Burlington. Combining the two facilities created a multi-disciplinary team with a new name: Living Well Center for Integrative Health.
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