Proper Footwear

I know I had a previous blog post regarding the proper footwear for hiking, yard work, etc., but I cannot mention it enough. Just last week I had two patients who came in with injuries caused by wearing the wrong shoes for the work they were doing. One was wearing shoes with very little traction while cutting the grass, and the other was wearing sandals while working in the garden.We’ve all been guilty of throwing on our old pair of gym shoes for yard work, but it’s important to remember – they are your old gym shoes for a reason. It’s likely the tread is worn off the bottom of the shoe. It’s not wise to wear gym shoes while mowing the yard anyway. It’s best to wear a supportive shoe with good traction. Yards are filled with everything from holes to tree roots that are easy to trip over and fall if you have no traction on your shoes. It’s best to invest in a pair of work boots, hiking boots or even cleats or golf shoes. They will last for many years if you just wear them when you mow, and most importantly they will reduce the risk of falling.The same can be said for working in the garden. It irritates me to see advertisements for “garden clogs.” Even if you are just picking weeds, it is a good idea to be wearing something more supportive than clogs when you are in your yard. If you are working with garden tools, such as shovels, it’s also smart to wear a steel-toed shoe to protect your digits from tools that are meant to impale clay! Before you know it, it will be fall and time to clean out the remnants of flower and food gardens, so be sure you are prepared for that work with the right type of shoe. If you have any questions about the best type of footwear for yard work, please ask me the next time you are in the office.