The holiday season is officially here, and that means travel, cooking up a storm, and hours spent standing around the buffet table. While you’re busy planning the menu, don’t forget to plan your footwear! Your feet will be doing a lot of heavy lifting this Thanksgiving, and we at Podiatry Center of New Jersey don’t want you choosing shoes that will make your feet hurt. Let’s talk about how to make smart choices that prioritize comfort, stability, and family time over everything else.
Shoes for the Kitchen and Hosting
If you’re hosting or helping with the cooking, you’ll be on hard kitchen floors for hours, lifting heavy dishes out of the oven, which can be a fast track to a plantar fasciitis flare-up.
Ditch the flimsy slippers, or heaven forbid, walking barefoot. You don’t want the turkey juice spilling on your feet and causing a burn.
Instead, we recommend wearing supportive athletic shoes or cushioned, stable house shoes while you’re cooking. This simple switch provides the shock absorption your feet need.
Footwear for Thanksgiving Travel Day
Long car rides or flights are a recipe for swelling in your feet and ankles. To keep the blood flowing, wear comfortable, non-restrictive sneakers for the journey.
Better yet, wear compression socks! They are fantastic for aiding circulation, reducing fluid pooling, and making sure your feet feel fresh when you finally arrive at your destination.
Avoid tight boots or heels until after you’ve settled in.
Shoes For Thanksgiving Social Hour
The temptation to wear those stunning, pointy-toed dress shoes is strong, but tight shoes will absolutely trigger pain in your bunions and cause metatarsalgia after just an hour or two.
When choosing dress shoes for socializing, prioritize options with wide toe boxes and stable, low heels. If you use custom orthotics, make sure your chosen dress shoes have removable insoles so you can slide your supportive inserts right in.
Shoes to Wear for Backyard Football
The family football game often happens right after the big meal, and it’s a prime setup for a holiday ankle sprain.
Avoid wearing heavy, rigid work boots or bulky fashion boots for this. They restrict your ankle and don’t give you the lateral stability you need for quick cuts. Also, don’t play in socks or flimsy casual shoes. You’ll have zero traction.
Break in Your Shoes
Because of these risks, the holidays are no time to test-drive new shoes, although it’s tempting. Wear comfortable, broken-in footwear that you trust. And make sure you check the soles of your shoes, especially if you’re navigating stairs or outside on potentially wet leaves, to ensure they have adequate tread and won’t cause a fall.
If you have more questions about foot care or want to address specific concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to the expert team at Podiatry Center of New Jersey! Give us a call at (973) 925-4111 or make an appointment online.
