April 22th | by Katie S. | Lifestyle

Relieving Nurse Foot Pain

Nurses have foot pain due to shifts that require them to be on their feet for extended periods of time. If you are a nurse, or anyone who is on their feet often, here is how you can reduce your foot pain!
Nursing Foot Pain Nursing Foot Pain

TRUE OR FALSE: Nurses take more steps in one shift than most people do throughout their entire day. Think carefully and choose wisely, dear reader, because despite you thinking your answer is for no one’s thoughts but your own, we will be silently judging your guess. Just kidding (not really).

For anyone who guessed true, you are *drumroll please*... CORRECT! The average nurse will take AT LEAST 9,000 steps PER SHIFT surpassing the average person’s daily steps by almost DOUBLE! Next time you want to complain about your 9-5 desk job, think again!

As we have all learned, nurses spend a lot of time on their feet. In doing so, they wage war against foot pain, often using shoes as their number one weapon. If you ask any nurse what shoes they wear at work, there is a high chance they will have a strong opinion about which shoes are the best.

So, is there foot relief for these heroes without capes? The answer is yes. We offer recovery shoes for nurses that help reduce foot pain and we will also let you in on a few secrets that may help alleviate your foot pain.

Why Do Nurses Have Foot Pain?

Nurse on her feet | foot pain Nurse on her feet | foot pain

We all know being on your feet too much can cause foot pain, but does anyone really understand why? We wish the answer was as simple as the question but truth be told, it isn’t. While some of the reasons are situational, others are genetics that no one can control #ThanksMom.

One of the greatest causes of foot pain has to do with the shoes you wear. Many people wear shoes that do not fit correctly and the pain they feel is their feet telling them that. According to Healthline, 66% of people wear shoes that are too narrow for their feet! Your shoes should not prohibit your feet from laying flat against the soles or prevent your toes from pointing forward. Your shoes should conform to your feet, not the other way around.

There are also many other reasons you may have foot pain that are unfortunately out of your control.

Common causes of foot pain are:

  • Plantar fasciitis | Inflammation within a muscle in the foot which causes pain.
  • Flat Feet | When your feet are flat, it can place strain on other parts of the foot and leg.
  • Shin Splints | Imbalanced muscles can affect other muscles, causing pain.
  • Achilles Tendonitis | When the achilles tendon is inflamed or swollen.
  • High-Arched Feet | High arched feet often cause pain because your foot is leaning too heavily towards the inside of your body.

Treatments for Foot Pain

PR SOLES®, recovery shoes worn to reduce foot pain, are a great way to alleviate pain in your feet. Originally, we created PR SOLES® recovery shoes for athletes who needed to recover from workouts faster. What we quickly found was that there are many people - not just athletes or runners - who are on their feet a lot and need to recover faster.

Recovery Shoes for Foot Pain Recovery Shoes for Foot Pain

When we say recover, we are referring to a process that helps to reduce soreness from your feet which prepares you to be able to workout (or use your feet) quicker with less symptoms. Your feet may become sore from overuse, causing inflammation or swelling due to lactic acid build up. This pain can be reduced through massage which helps to disperse lactic acid.

PR SOLES® recovery shoes contain ACUPOINT® technology - massaging footbeds which encourage blood flow and reduce pain as you walk. They also absorb the weight of your step more than other shoes which has also been shown to reduce lower back, joint pain, plantar fasciitis, and shin splints.

Ways to Reduce Foot Pain

As promised, here are other ways you can reduce foot pain:

  1. Stretch your Feet
    Make sure to not overstretch your feet. It is recommended to stretch a muscle for a total of 60 seconds within 15-20 second intervals.

  2. Ice your Feet
    Apply ice for 20 minutes a time with a towel between the ice and your skin.

  3. Elevate your Feet
    Use pillows to elevate your feet high enough that they are resting at least six inches above your heart. Elevating your feet encourages blood flow.

  4. Switch your Shoes
    Wear shoes that are supportive and fit your feet correctly.

  5. Foot Massages
    Massage the foot to reduce tension and encourage circulation.
Massaging to Reduce Foot Pain Massaging to Reduce Foot Pain