Standing is a lot harder than it may appear, especially if you are standing on your feet all day.
Individuals working in retail, hospitality, and healthcare are no stranger to tired, sore and aching
feet by the end of their shift from standing. Jobs that involve standing and walking put an
enormous amount of stress on your feet.
To put things into perspective, the entire body weight rests on the feet over a period that could last anywhere between 6 – 14 hours.
When choosing the best shoes for standing all day, several design attributes need to
be considered.
What To Look For In Shoes for Standing All Day
Firstly, the outsole design should preferably be wide. A wide outsole with full ground contact is
important for even pressure distribution.
Secondly, the midsole should be cushioned, but also firm. While some shoes offer a cushioned
midsole, it can be quite flexible, providing little support to the feet. A stiff midsole is
key to ensure efficient energy transfer from the heel to the ball of the foot. Therefore, it is important
to check if the shoe has both cushioned and also stiff midsole to ensure support to the midfoot.
Thirdly a spacious upper to allow enough room for the toes to splay is essential. Tight fitting shoes in
the forefoot is not only uncomfortable, but can also lead to various forefoot conditions such as ingrown toenails, corns, callus, bunions or clawed toes.
Another key feature to look for is a higher ‘heel drop’ which indicates the difference between the
heel and forefoot thickness. For a standing-friendly shoe, it is preferable to have a higher heel
drop (about 8-12 mm) to alleviate pressure on the Achilles tendon and calves.
Some shoes we recommend to our patients include Brooks Ghost, Brooks Glycerin, New
Balance Fresh Foam 1080, Hoka, available at Active Feet and The Running Company.
Do Not Purchase Shoes Online If You Can Try On In Store
Shoes online can often look appealing and save the hassle of running around the shops trying to find the correct pair. However, this can lead to many issues and as the old saying goes, “it is best to try before you buy”.
To determine whether a shoe is wide enough, we recommend taking the existing insole out of the shoe (if this can be done) and standing on the insole, as your foot will expand. If any area of your foot spills over the insole, this means the shoe is too narrow.
In terms of length, we ideally prefer a thumb width from your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Otherwise, this can also lead to thickened and bruised toe nails.
All these fitting test can not be done when purchasing a shoe online and sometimes you can get caught out if the manufacturers change the design of their shoes. Even if you think you are buying a pair you have already have it may be slightly different in terms of fit.
If you are on your feet all day and experience achy, sore and tired feet, we highly recommend coming in to see one of our podiatrists for a proper foot assessment and recommended treatment plan as well as footwear recommendation.
