What Nurses Don't Know, CAN Hurt
Nurses do so much it’s impossible to cover all of it. But did you know that a recent study found that nurses walk an average of 4-5 miles during a 12 hr shift? That works out to approximately 10,000 steps a shift!
In one year alone nurses go the distance, walking the equivalent of Vancouver to Albuquerque- that’s why your feet may feel like they’re breaking (so) bad.
“Nurses can walk 4-5 miles during an average 12 hr shift”
It’s a known fact that nurses experience a great deal of musculoskeletal pain. A recent study of BC health care workers found that out of all the injuries that resulted in lost productivity or absenteeism, 83% were musculoskeletal. Generally, it is accepted that it’s just part of being a nurse.
But that doesn’t have to be the case, so why should you be expected to accept it?
Years of Wear and Tear
Pain in the feet can also lead to bigger problems later in life as well, because the damage often builds up gradually over the span of years.
Look at it this way.
Nurses can walk amazing distances without knowing it. Unfortunately without preventative care many won’t feel the long term effects until it is too late.
Nurses walk 2-3X more than the average person, and at that rate, you’ll have walked across Canada in 2-3 years!
If your feet hurt, it’s only natural to modify your gait to compensate, but that change puts strain on everything else, from your ankles to knees to hips to back, because changing the way you walk can shift your balance unnaturally. This can lead to further problems later on.
Foot pain is sneaky, often starting as something small.
For example, imagine a small ache on your heel. This is commonly caused by plantar fasciitis, which is prevalent amongst people who spend a lot of time on their feet. If left untreated, it can seriously limit activities such as walking or exercising, and if it gets bad enough, you may even experience constant heel pain every time you stand!
It’s important to keep in mind that when it comes to your health, it’s all related. Like Dr. Nick said, “The kneebone’s connected to the… something”. Technically, he’s right!
And let’s face it, at the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do after work is having to nurse your own tired, aching feet.
What’s also important to consider is that when you’re getting that kind of mileage out of your feet and shoes, it’s recommended that you change shoes every 8-12 months, even if they aren’t falling apart yet. That’s because that amount of wear and tear can cause the shoe’s support to rapidly deteriorate.
What Can Nurses Do?
Strides Pedorthics has been a leading solutions provider for foot pain in the Vancouver mainland for almost 20 years. They have seen an increase in healthcare workers come in for preventative care footwear.
Michael Gorman, co-owner and chief pedorthist at Strides Pedorthics, uses his 30 years of experience in orthotics and prosthetics to be at the forefront of foot pain relief and prevention.
When asked what makes Strides different, he says, “Our on-site orthotics lab, clinical assessment area, and footwear showroom means we can meet all of your footwear and orthotic needs here, in one location.”
He continues “We do everything in-house so you can be assured that our expert knowledge is there for every step of the process, making sure that everything from your orthotic to shoe is the perfect fit.”
“We do everything in-house so you can be assured that our expert knowledge is there for every step of the process”
Strides has built up a steady referral network of Lower Mainland doctors, orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, rehabilitation therapists, and community health nurses, providing many of them with the proper footwear for foot care as well.
Don’t sacrifice style for comfort either. With 400 styles of comfortable footwear for every style, taste, and season, Strides Pedorthics helps health professionals put their best foot forward every single day.
Nurses already do enough, spending long hours helping and healing those who need it most. They shouldn’t have to pay for it with foot pain for the rest of their lives.
Many times, nurses won’t even have to pay at all because their extended benefits plan often covers custom orthotics, so there is no reason for them to be walking around in uncomfortable, ill-fitting shoes with insoles that offer little to no support.
