![]() “If a bartender is prone to blisters, wear two pairs of socks to create an extra layer of protection,” says Dr. Hanna recommends asking your employer for an anti fatigue floor mat – a thick, rubber mat that provides extra cushion to complement the support of the shoe and could help you through a long night on your feet. ![]() To keep feet pain-free while standing on them, Dr. James Hanna, podiatrist in Lockport, NY and a spokesperson for the New York State Podiatric Medical Association (NYSPMA). “I always tell my patients, though the shoe may feel good in the store, it’s always a good idea to wear them around the house for a few hours to do a test run before wearing them to work,” says Dr. Even though flats seem like they would be the most logical choice for comfortable shoes to wear for a long time, they can actually cause pain in the arch and heels and hurt your lower back.” “They should be rather stiff and have a significant amount of arch support.” And, she adds, “under no circumstances should a bartender wear completely flat ‘ballet’ shoes. Dana Canuso echoes this: “When looking for any shoes that you’re going to be walking around in all night, make sure that they do not bend if you fold them in half,” she says. You want to avoid shoes such as ballet flats or those that you can easily bend for all day wearing.” Also, wearing shoes that have a good structure and are not flimsy. Wearing a shoe with built in support and or an orthotic insert can help. “Standing on your feet all day, for most people, can cause increased pressure to your arch and heel. Suzanne Fuchs, a podiatrist practicing at Luxe Podiatry in Palm Beach, Florida. “I would recommend bartenders wearing shoes that give good arch support and foot/ ankle stability,” says Dr. When shoe-shopping, go for structure (and skip the ballet flats) Different shoes should be worn for commuting to work and on the job.” “Before work, feet should be washed and thoroughly dried,” says Dr. (We also asked over a hundred bartenders to share their picks for shift-worthy shoes - stay tuned for that installment next week.) Read on for the scoop from medical experts: We asked a few podiatrists to weigh in with their recommendations for shoe-shopping, foot care, stretches and everything else you should know to keep your feet healthy and pain-free. “Feet are particularly vulnerable to swelling, achiness, calluses, bunions, corns, pain in the arches, and varicose veins, among other effects.” But don’t despair just yet - with the right stretches, shoes, and maybe even socks, a lot of these issues can be mitigated or avoided entirely. Eunice Ramsey-Parker, DPM, MPH, and Clinic Administrator of the Foot Center of New York. “Bartenders and wait staff that stand for a living can suffer sore and swollen feet and legs, tired muscles, lower back pain and achy necks and shoulders,” says Dr. Proper footwear is so crucial to anyone working behind a bar yet supportive shoes that hold up to slippery floors and long shifts can be surprisingly hard to find (particularly when you bring in other factors, like budget, personal aesthetics and any lingering desire for your footwear to not resemble something an orthopedic surgeon would prescribe). And, if you’ve ever gotten stuck pulling a long shift with the wrong shoes, you know it can also actually hurt. It’s no secret that a physically demanding job requiring hours of movement on your feet can have pretty hellacious long-term results on your body.
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