Shoes, shoes, shoes. Some think of them as a statement that reflects the wearer’s personality. Others think shoes should purely be comfortable. But one thing we can all agree on is when you spend all day on your feet, having a good pair of shoes is essential.
Shoes are a topic that has generated heated debate on our Facebook Aged Care Worker Support Group on many occasions. Some members are loyal to a particular brand, while others share stories of success with bargain purchases.
The topic generates so much interest, and since today marks the start of Foot Health Week, we thought we would speak to an expert to find out what aged care workers should look for when buying their next work shoe.
Being an aged care worker is a highly physical occupation. It requires long hours on your feet, and a lot of walking and exertion. Wearing the wrong shoes can not only be uncomfortable and put you in a foul mood for as long as they are on your feet, it can cause long-term health problems.
According to the Victorian government’s Better Health website, wearing shoes that are too tight, too loose or not supportive enough can place stress on your feet, ankles, lower legs and other joints, and cause pain and injury.
Poor shoe choice can contribute to shin splints, Achilles tendon pain, corns, bunions, ingrown nails, postural problems and lower back pain.
If you are working on your feet all day, even wearing the wrong type of shoes for a short period can cause stress and pain in your bones and joints, and the soft tissues that support them.
So how can we avoid these problems?
Heather Young has been a podiatrist for more than three decades, having started her own podiatry business in Melbourne, Williamstown Podiatry, in 1988.
She says “if you can pick up a shoe and fold it in half then that’s not good”, the shoe is unlikely to be good quality, she says. The “shank” of the shoe, from the heel to the toe box, shouldn’t be that flexible, she explained.
Aged care workers should look for shoes with:
The Australian Podiatry Association also recommends that essential workers such as aged care workers look after their feet by wearing comfortable footwear and to update shoes before they become worn out. They also recommend stretching your feet, ankles and lower legs after a long day on your feet.
We asked Ms Young about the price of the shoes she recommends, but there wasn’t good news on this front.
“You pay for what you get,” she said. Better quality shoes tend to be more expensive, but they will last longer.
She says some shoes bought from the large retail chains aren’t going to be made to last and they’re “not solidly built”. They won’t have the support in them that aged care workers need, she said.
So what brands does Ms Young recommend?
Shoes that use runner technology should have the support aged care workers need, she said, shoes such as Asics and Brooks. Rockport shoes are also good.
Ascent shoes from The Athlete’s Foot use runner technology in a black workshoe which would be suitable for aged care workers, she suggested.
Sketchers are too flexible. They have too much give in them which means your foot has to work harder, Ms Young explained.
So there you have it, you’ll now know how to put your best foot forward when you go to buy a new pair of shoes.
Image: Vicheslav, iStock.
