Best Shoes For Occupation Therapists
If you’re an occupational therapist, you know that your job requires a lot of activity and movement. You have to climb stairs, sit in chairs and walk back and forth on a daily basis. And since you spend so much time on your feet, it’s important to find shoes that will help keep you comfortable throughout the day.
The best shoes for occupational therapists are those that offer support and comfort without sacrificing style. They should be able to withstand the wear-and-tear of a busy day of working with patients. Here are some of the top options:
Clarks Women’s Soft Ground Contact Shoes
These clogs are designed to provide maximum comfort for long days on your feet. The soft leather upper has elastic goring for easy on/off and breathable ventilation holes that keep toes cool during warm weather months. The flexible rubber sole offers traction even in wet conditions and provides shock absorption for added comfort over long shifts.
If you’re serious about your footwear and want another excellent option for a super supportive yet lightweight work shoe plus running shoe, Brooks running shoes are highly recommended and loved by OTs. They’re extremely comfortable for long days on your feet, and offer neutral foot support with “high energizing” cushioning. The Brooks Ghost 13 shoes linked above are also a certified PDAC A5500 diabetic shoe and have been granted the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance. They also happen to be the best-rated shoe on Amazon that we’re featuring.
While originally made as rain and garden shoes, Sloggers are comfortable, lightweight, and supportive shoes to wear during the workday. Their name hints at them potentially being clogs but they have nearly a full back and offer a good arch support. These features both give the feet the cushion they need to remain strong and energetic after long hours on your feet. The soles have sufficient tread to offer you the traction you need and help navigate potential spills or slippery floors. The insole is removable for easy cleaning (or freshening up) and the material wipes off very easily in water or with a damp cloth. Sloggers come in a lot of very stylish designs, too, so you have many options to keep your footwear fun and functional at the same
time.
As another option, Tiosebon brand slip-on shoes serve a dual purpose as either athletic shoes or work shoes, depending on your needs or preference. These shoes are attractive enough that they can be worn outside of work with some athleisure apparel or even jeans and a t-shirt. The knit material may not hold up against spills (or cleaning) as well as the rubber clogs do, but they are more breathable and some may say are more attractive than clogs. The cloth-elastic hybrid also offers some give for people with a bit larger feet that might feel cramped in shoes made of a solid material. This shoe is quite lightweight – even more than most brands of clogs – and they reportedly contain environmentally-friendly materials.
FeetMat shoes are similarly lightweight and stylish like the Tiosebon. They are dark so stains may be less likely to appear, and the laces can be easily hidden for a more streamlined appearance. There is a removable sock liner that allows you to maintain the interior of the shoes more easily regardless of whether or not you decide to wear socks during use. Their non-skid rubber sole has a decent amount of tread on the bottom, which is a great sign for improved arch support and traction on potentially hazardous surfaces. Traction is also crucial for keeping your balance when in precarious situations such as transferring patients that need a high level of assistance or during showers. FeetMat shoes come in a range of colors, are affordable, and can be delivered quickly via Amazon.
You’ve known the Crocs brand for many years now. Whether or not you’re a fan of their distinguishable style, you can’t argue that these work clogs are a really good option for therapists. Their crowning glory is being much lighter than traditional clogs (and this undoubtedly lures people in who weren’t previously a fan of clogs). With an entirely closed-toe design, they’re professional on the outside and comfortable on the inside.
In standard Crocs fashion, the insoles are bright orange but they have lots of grooves, which make this style of footwear ultra comfortable. The bottoms don’t have quite as many treads as some of these other options do, so they may not be best for therapists doing a lot of heavy lifting or speed walking down the halls. They still do offer a firm, durable sole and a good deal of arch support, which makes them a solid choice for therapists who are on-the-go and want shoes that will stand the test of time.
As you can see, there are a lot of great footwear options to choose from, and even more that we didn’t cover. This is a good starting point to get you thinking of what to look for in shoes, especially in regards to features that are crucial to therapists such as anti-fatigue soles, cushioning and durability. Shoes can vary in size between brands, so be sure you are willing to potentially ask to exchange them or get a refund if you don’t get something that’s comfortable for you. Online shopping can be difficult for this, but thankfully, it’s easy to do quick returns with established places like Amazon.