4 Tips to Make Transitioning to Work Shoes Easier
Once upon a time, you worked in an actual office, where you had to come in professionally dressed for work each day. At NY Foot Health, we know many people are leaving the zoom screens and home offices necessitated by COVID shutdowns and heading back into a real work setting. Your feet may have a thing or two to say about that. For both men and women, professional footwear is likely to be a whole lot more rigid and restrictive than going barefoot or wearing the slippers or flip-flops popular at the home office. Below are four ways to decrease the risk of pain, blisters, and other podiatric problems and ease your feet back into work shoes.
Evaluate your current shoe wardrobe. It may have been over a year and a half since you last wore some of your work shoes. Inspect them for signs of wear: stretched-out heels, compacted insoles, worn down treads, etc. Try them on to see how they feel.
Get properly fitted for new shoes. Get your feet professionally measured if you decide it’s time to replace some of your work shoes. It may surprise you to learn that your foot has increased in size, but that is not uncommon. If you put on a few pounds during the quarantine, it’s even more likely. Choose new shoes that have a stiff sole but a flexible upper. Look for soft materials, and if you have a bunion or other deformity, make sure the shoes comfortably accommodate it. Shop from the list put together by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) of shoe manufacturers that make podiatrist-approved footwear.
Reintroduce work shoes slowly. Once you know the return date to your office, start wearing your work shoes a few hours a day and gradually increase the amount of time you spend in them. It’s okay to switch off with more comfortable shoes but make sure your off-hour footwear still has good arch support. Try to avoid going barefoot as much as possible.
Increase activity level. Chances are, going back to the office will mean more walking. Heck, just getting to your car, into the office, and down the hall to the break room is a significant increase over the track from your home office to the kitchen, right? If you’ve been more sedentary at home, incorporate a walk into your daily routine before heading back to the office. It will help your feet adjust more quickly and comfortably.
If, despite your proactive efforts, you still find your feet are in pain once you’re back to work, see your podiatrist for an evaluation. If you need to find a podiatrist near you, use our online directory. To learn more about the cause of foot pain and how to deal with them, contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.