Keep Your Feet Happy and Healthy at Home
During times like these, it can help to look for the silver linings. For many, the pandemic has meant long hours at home, all day, every day. While there are so many negative impacts to this new normal, you may have discovered one upside: every day is casual Friday. You’re free to roam the house all day in bare feet or your most comfy sandals or slippers.
For others, the pandemic has meant long hours working on your feet. If this is you, it’s tempting to kick off your work shoes as soon as you get home and slip into something more comfortable.
Whether you’re enjoying casual Fridays every day, working long hours on your feet, or chasing after the kids all day, remember that going barefoot, or wearing your most comfy sandals or slippers at home, doesn’t always mean happy feet. So we’re sharing some expert tips on how to keep your feet healthy at home and give them the support they need.
Expert tips for supportive home footwear
1. Wear flips that don’t flop
Flips are an absolute fave around the house and as summer approaches. And for good reason—they provide easy-breezy barefoot freedom inside and out, and the super-convenience of slip on and off. But without the right structure and support, they’ll do more damage than good. Your average flip-flop has a flat base made of super-soft foam, and while they may feel comfortable when you first put them on, they actually make your feet work harder while walking.
When your feet lack support, your body engages the stabilizing tissues in the lower legs or feet, and muscles become fatigued from balancing on a soft, spongy surface. The extreme tension in every step causes harm to connective tissues, such as the plantar fascia and Achilles tendons. When the force becomes too much for those tissues, micro-tears develop. This results in inflammation as the body fights to heal itself. Inflammation of a muscle or connective tissue translates to the pain you experience with every step.
2. Arch support
Giving your arches the support they need can help improve your posture. A footbed with proper arch support can help prevent, and even treat, issues related to your feet and lower limbs, such as plantar fasciitis, neuromas, or just sore and tired feet.
3. Deep heel cup
Think of the heel cup as a container that holds your heel in place and supports it from all sides. A deep heel cup also helps protect the fat pads on your heels and distribute impact while you’re walking.
4. Metatarsal pad
Also known as ‘met pads’, they help support and spread out the transverse arch, which runs across the width of your forefoot. Metatarsal pads help prevent forefoot pain and neuromas stemming from pinched nerves in between your metatarsal joints, which are like the knuckles of your feet.
5. Removable footbed
If you wear custom orthotics, look for sandals with a removable footbed so you can insert your own custom orthotics, giving you the support you need and making them more comfortable.
6. Adjustable closures
If you have wide feet, high arches or bunions, you may benefit from sandals with adjustable closures. These allow you to customize the fit to the unique shape of your foot and avoid pressure points.
The best sandals for happy feet at home
HumanCo Explore Sandal
HumanCo was created by a team of human kinetics specialists who are passionate about maximizing human performance and giving back to the community.
- Deep heel cups stabilize feet and align feet with ankles, knees and hips
- Cushioned midsoles reduce impact
- Flex grooves support the natural bend in your foot while walking
- Forefoot and arch supports distribute pressure evenly across your feet
- Made with PLUSFoam®—light, strong, and weather-resistant; 100% recyclable; zero post-manufacturing waste
- One Good Deed: with every HumanCo product you purchase, HumanCo gives you the opportunity to do One Good Deed—just visit humanco.net, enter your purchase info, and choose one of their charity partners to support–that’s it!
Birkenstock Arizona Birko-Flor
At the heart of every pair of Birkenstocks is the legendary footbed. Every layer of the footbed serves a purpose to encourage proper foot wellbeing and health. The result is signature style coupled with all-day comfort.
- Anatomically shaped cork-latex footbed
- Upper: Birko-Flor®
- Footbed lining: suede
- Sole: EVA
- Details: two straps, each with an individually adjustable metal pin buckle
- Made in Germany
Are you experiencing foot pain?
Book an appointment with one of our Canadian Certified Pedorthists today for a thorough assessment and personalized treatment plan to help you get back on your feet.
Our new One2One program will provide you with the highest level of safety and personalized service for all of your orthotics, footwear, and bracing needs.
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