PTTD in Teachers and Nurses: Managing Foot Pain When You’re on Your Feet All Day

Teachers and nurses share something unforgiving: hours on hard floors with no opportunity to sit. For someone with PTTD, this combination is brutal. Your posterior tibial tendon works overtime to stabilize your arches, and hard floors offer no relief. Here’s how to survive a shift without making your PTTD worse.

Why Your Job Is Hard on Your Feet

Both teaching and nursing involve:

  • Prolonged standing — Often 6-10 hours without real rest
  • Hard surfaces — Tile, linoleum, and concrete dominate hospitals and schools
  • Limited break time — You can’t always step away when your feet hurt
  • Increased load — Carrying supplies, lifting patients (nurses), or bending to help students

This adds up to serious strain on your posterior tibial tendon, especially if you’re already in early stages of PTTD.

Shoes: Your First Line of Defense

This can’t be emphasized enough: your shoes make or break your shift.

For Teachers

  • Arch support is essential. Look for shoes specifically designed for teachers or standing all day (think Dansko, Skechers Work, or Brooks)
  • Replace regularly. If your shoes are over 6 months old with daily wear, they’re probably compacted and offering less support
  • Avoid fashion shoes. Those cute flats or heels might look professional, but they’ll destroy your feet over a 9-hour day

For Nurses

  • Same rules apply, with some additions. Nursing adds the need for slip-resistant soles and easy cleaning
  • Compression socks help. They improve circulation and reduce swelling, which can take some pressure off your tendons
  • Consider two pairs. Rotating between two supportive pairs extends their life and lets them decompress

The Non-Negotiables

Regardless of your profession:

  • Custom orthotics — If you’ve been prescribed them, wear them. Every. Single. Day.
  • Replace when compressed. Squeeze the sole. If it doesn’t spring back, the cushioning is gone.
  • No knockoffs. Cheap “supportive” shoes often lack real arch support. Stick with brands that actually deliver.

During Your Shift: Strategies That Help

Shift your weight. Don’t stand in one position. Rock onto your heels, then your toes. One foot slightly in front of the other. Movement is medicine.

Take micro-breaks. Even 30 seconds of sitting when you can makes a difference. Use any opportunity—a bathroom break, a student working independently, a quiet moment in the nurses’ station.

Calf raises when you can. Standing on your tiptoes 10-15 times engages your posterior tibial tendon gently and can help strengthen it.

Ice on your lunch break. If your tendon is inflamed, 15-20 minutes of ice during your break reduces swelling.

After Work: Recovery Matters

Elevate your feet. Get them above heart level for 20-30 minutes when you get home.

Gentle stretching. Calf stretches and ankle circles help maintain flexibility.

Epsom salt soak. If your feet are tired and swollen, a warm Epsom salt bath feels incredible and may reduce inflammation.

Check tomorrow’s schedule. If you have a particularly brutal day ahead, plan for extra support—more comfortable shoes, orthotics freshened up, a backup plan for breaks.

The Honest Truth

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, PTTD progresses in jobs that demand so much of your feet. If you’re noticing increasing pain, swelling that doesn’t go away, or visible changes in your arch, it’s worth a conversation with your doctor about:

  • Bracing or orthotic adjustments
  • Physical therapy protocol changes
  • Whether modified duty might help

Your career matters, but so does your long-term foot health.

Sources

  • Occupational health recommendations for standing workers
  • Podiatric guidance on footwear for prolonged standing