Step into a nurse’s shoes for the day and you will soon realize how often they are on their feet completing a wide variety of duties. These duties range from cleaning and dressing wounds to physical examinations of patients.
But, unlike most other specialists, nurses are on their feet for most of their shifts. Therefore, reliable and sturdy footwear is essential to maintain comfort.
This is where clogs step in. They are renowned for being supremely comfortable with a touch of elegance.
Okay, elegance probably isn’t the first thing you think about when you imagine clogs but there are different designs available. However, style is a secondary concern behind comfort when you’re walking for 8 to 12 hours a day.
So, aside from comfort, why do so many nurses wear clogs at work? Well, in today’s article we are going to find out. Read on to discover more about the benefits of clogs and why they are so popular with caregivers.
What Are Clogs?
Clogs are a unique type of footwear that boasts a flexible leather or plastic upper with a sturdy, secure sole and heel. When most of us imagine clogs, we think of wooden footwear.
That is because the heels and soles of clogs were originally made from wood. However, a range of materials are often used for these shoes today.
Clogs have been worn for centuries. Originally, they were worn by peasants and factory workers as the hardwood inside helped protect their feet.
Over the many years, their functionality has evolved and they have gone from cumbersome footwear to a more desirable style of shoe. They have been embraced by both consumers and fashion designers throughout the world.
The Benefits of Wearing Clogs – 7 Reasons
There are many reasons why nurses wear clogs. They offer support and comfort for long days on your feet. The recommended daily step count is 10,000 but nurses average around 16,390 steps per day, just behind waiters who manage 22,700 on a daily basis.
If your footwear is poorly designed or has a thin sole, then your feet will soon begin to ache. Blisters can start to appear making it harder and harder to continue walking.
So, let’s take a look at what makes clogs so desirable for nurses.
Comfort
One reason why clogs are coveted by healthcare professionals, in particular nurses, is down to the comfort they provide. Many nurses work up to twelve hours or so on an average shift.
Many of these nurses also work overtime so you can add another three or so hours on top. For this reason alone, their work shoes must be supremely comfortable.
Take sneakers and more conventional shoes for example. These generally have a lace-up design. When the laces are tied up, they tend to add additional pressure to the feet.
This can lead to discomfort during extended use. Clogs, on the other hand, can be put on and off whenever you want with ease and no laces are required. The result? A boost in overall foot comfort and overall health.
Support
Clogs are not designed like other regular shoes. They are specially made to offer a higher level of foot comfort over an extended period of use. This is probably the number one reason why nurses prefer clogs over other forms of footwear.
After a twelve-hour shift on your feet, chances are your feet will feel sore and fatigued. After thousands and thousands of steps, you can put pressure on certain muscles and joints which can result in leg and back pain as well as some other painful conditions.
It is always best to prevent a condition rather than treat it. Regular exercise and sufficient sleep can alleviate such pains but you should try and avoid the issue in the first place.
Thankfully, a high-quality pair of clogs can help prevent foot and joint pain after being on your feet for hours on end.
Clogs tend to have a robust interior that provides support to the ankles and feet. Therefore, strain and stress are kept off of your spine and other joints.
Safety
As we mentioned, clogs do not have laces or straps. This means wearers do not need to worry about getting caught or tripping over their own feet. With so much equipment around nurses in hospitals, such a fall could be very serious.
Moreover, this laceless feature also ensures that wearers do not suffer undue pain that comes from a focused pressure on the feet.
Clogs are also very easy to clean. Infections are one of the primary concerns when working within a healthcare environment. Clogs generally have simple and smooth uppers that are easy to wipe clean. This means they are better for preventing and controlling infections.
Clogs also come with a closed-toe design which helps to ensure the feet are fully protected against any possible injuries from certain objects. They also hide the feet from being exposed to bodily fluids or dangerous chemicals, both common commodities in hospitals.
Many modern clogs are designed with an array of safety features, too. These include safety toe caps in case any heavy objects fall on the feet and anti-static technology.
Anti-static technology helps prevent the accumulation of possible static energy charging through the body. Therefore, the danger of interference with electric devices in a hospital environment is decreased.
Durable
Clogs, especially those made for the medical profession, are constructed using thick rubber or plastic that have a spongy, comfortable sole. In other words, they are ideal for walking or standing for long periods.
Such features ensure the footwear will stand the test of time and have a long lifespan compared to regular shoes.
Conventional shoes tend to lose their shape and form after some time and will usually wear out with holes and tears appearing after a short period of use. Medical clogs, on the other hand, maintain their form, shape, and look, even after years of use.
Traction
The floors of hospitals can often become slippery leading to potential accidents. This is because the floors are regularly cleaned to maintain hygiene.
These wet floors are always marked to warn people but accidents can occur. Nurses tend to rush around quickly to attend to patients raising the risk of slipping and falling.
This is why medical clogs are designed with large and steady soles to cover a wider area of the floor. Most also feature slip-resistant soles that provide supreme grip on different terrains such as wet, slippery surfaces.
Breathable
The design of clogs is ideal for long days on your feet. Most have an open-back design that adds to the shoe’s breathability. This additional breathability helps a nurse’s feet cool and allows sweat to evaporate at a quicker rate.
Sweaty feet can feel unpleasant but can also increase the risk of contracting fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.
Easy To Put On And Take Off
Clogs are highly versatile types of footwear. You can easily slip them on when leaving for work and just as easily slip them off after a long, hard shift. It also means you don’t have to remove them with your hands, decreasing the likelihood of picking up germs and bacteria.
In Summary
While clogs are certainly not as stylish as other footwear such as sneakers, they provide incredible levels of support and comfort for long days on your feet. There is no doubt that a twelve-hour nurse’s shift will be a lot harder without the use of sturdy clogs.
