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Let’s talk about the thing nobody warns you about enough in surgical tech school.
The standing.
Not walking. Not running around. Standing. In one spot, at the back table or across from the surgeon, for hours. Your feet ache, your legs get heavy, your back starts talking to you, and by the end of a long case you can feel every minute of it.
I’ve been a surgical tech and surgical first assistant for over 20 years. And when the standing starts getting to us, the first thing most of us do is look down at our feet. We start shopping for better surgical tech shoes and better socks.
So let me tell you what’s on mine right now.
Cute Used to Win. Not Anymore.
To be honest, I used to love cute compression socks. The patterns, the colors, the little prints that peeked out of my scrub pants. In fact, I had a whole collection.
But honey, I’m 43 now. Cute is out. Comfort is in.
These days I want socks that actually compress, shoes that actually support me, and both of them to last. If it looks good too, that’s a bonus. But it’s not the reason I’m buying it anymore.
My Compression Socks: Copper Fit Knee-High
My current favorite compression socks are Copper Fit knee-high compression socks.
Here’s why I keep reaching for them:
- The compression is really there. You can actually feel them working. They’re not a regular sock pretending to be compression.
- They last. This is the big one for me. I’ve had mine for over a year, and they have not lost their compression.
If you’ve bought compression socks before, you know how rare that is. A lot of them feel great for the first few weeks, then slowly stretch out until they’re basically regular socks with a fancy label. Mine, however, haven’t done that.
That’s why consistency matters so much when you’re standing for hours. I want to put them on and know they’ll do the same job they did the first day I wore them.
My Surgical Tech Shoes: On Cloud 6
Right now, I’m wearing On Cloud 6 in the OR.
Of all the surgical tech shoes I’ve tried over the years, these are the ones I keep reaching for right now. When you find a shoe that gets you through a long day without your feet screaming at you by the end, you hold on to it.
The Surgical Tech Shoes That Didn’t Make It Through the Day
Now let me keep it real about a recent experiment.
The other day, I tried wearing my New Balance 530s to work. They’re newer, and I wanted to see how they’d do in the OR.
They didn’t make it. Eventually, I had to change into my Skechers.
That’s the thing about surgical tech shoes. A shoe can be comfortable for running errands or walking around all day and still not work for standing still in one spot for hours. In other words, walking and standing are two different jobs for your feet.
So don’t assume your favorite everyday sneakers will translate to the OR. Test them on a shorter day first, and keep a backup pair nearby.
What I’ve Learned About Standing in the OR
After two decades of this, here’s what I’d tell any surgical tech, especially newer techs:
- Treat your feet like equipment. You wouldn’t use a dull instrument. Don’t work in worn-out surgical tech shoes.
- Pay attention to how long things last. A cheaper sock that stretches out in a month isn’t really cheaper.
- Comfort over cute, every time. Your feet will thank you at hour ten.
- Test new shoes before a big day. Ask me how I know.
- Keep a backup pair at work. Some days you’ll need to switch.
- Listen to your body. If your feet, legs, or back hurt all the time, don’t just push through. Talk to your doctor or a foot specialist about what’s right for you.
That last one matters. I’m sharing what works for me, but everybody’s body is different. Also, if you have circulation issues, swelling, or pain that won’t go away, get it checked. And ask your provider what compression level is right for you.
Your Feet Carry Your Career
Too often, we spend so much time taking care of patients that we forget to take care of ourselves. But this career is long, and your body is the one doing the work.
Good surgical tech shoes and good compression socks won’t fix everything. But they’ll make a real difference in how you feel walking out of that OR at the end of the day.
What’s on your feet in the OR right now? Shoes, socks, insoles, all of it. Tell me in the comments. I’m always looking for what’s working for y’all.
P.S. If you’re thinking about travel work and all those long shifts on your feet, read Surgical Tech Strike Assignments: Would You Work 60 Hours for $70 an Hour? For more real talk, take a look around SurgicalTechCareer.com. Take what helps and leave the rest.