If you Work on Your Feet Try these Tips
Why is foot care important?
If you work on your feet all day, this can cause sore feet, legs, and even back pain. And unfortunately, there are many jobs which require you to be standing more often than not.
Feet are our foundation. We use them to carry ourselves from one place to another. Due to a lot of wear and tear from pressure and movement, our feet become sore and can even affect our hips, knees, and entire spine.
It is common for people who have a job that requires standing all day to end up missing days of work. And possibly even looking for new employment because of the strain it puts on their feet. Although the pain does not necessarily have to be present when obtaining a job that applies stress to our joints.
Taking extra care of your feet and legs can be done with a few simple adjustments and tweaks of your routines, such as the following:
If You Work on Your Feet, Start With Your Shoes
Wear proper support
Sometimes we think specific shoes are good for our feet, such as sandals and flat-soled shoes, but these are not recommended. It is a must to have an elevated heel for proper arch support.
When it comes to standing all day, it is a must to have proper arch support. This will allow you to be comfortable throughout the day, without weak, sore feet. However, poor arch support can cause many issues to our feet. Purchasing insoles from an athletic store or visiting your podiatrist will do wonders for your sore tootsies!
Make sure they fit
Interestingly enough, many people wear shoes that are too small for them. This causes poor circulation to your feet and increases your chances of a blister. This can cause a lot of stress on your feet and eventually become unbearable. Especially when you are on them all day!
Did you know, some people actually have different sized feet? To the point that they technically need two sized shoes! With the help of a sales associate, you can buy a split sized pair or even get customized shoes.
What should you do if you are experiencing these symptoms? First off, go to a shoe store to get properly fitted. Next, determine if you need wide shoes. Now, try on shoes until you find the right fit. Do not settle for something you think fits. Our feet should be taken care of properly, always.
Stretch Throughout The Day
Although this might seem a little bit tedious, we must take a moment to stretch often. Stop every hour or so to relax and stretch your tight muscles. In fact, stretching your feet can serve many benefits, such as increased flexibility and pain relief.
Calf raises are a good start, therefore, helping pump blood out of the foot and back into the body.
- Stand tall on the edge of a step or platform, with your abdominal muscles pulled in.
- Secure the balls of your feet firmly with your heels hanging over the edge.
- Raise your heels a few inches above the step as you stand on your tiptoes and hold for a second.
- Lower your heels back to even with the platform.
- Repeat 10 times.
Another good stretch is the runner stretch.
- Face a wall and place your hands against it.
- Extend one leg behind your body.
- Push your heel to the floor as far as it will go.
- Hold for a moment to feel the stretch and then switch sides.
- Repeat three times on each leg.
Take Care of Your Feet
It is the end of a long day, and that means it is time to give your feet some extra care. You have been standing on them all day. Give your feet some relief!
Immerse your feet
As long as you do not experience any vascular issues, immersing your feet in a bucket with ice and water for 20-minutes can drastically reduce inflammation and swelling! By doing this, we help the body heal faster from any damage being on our feet all day has caused.
Elevate your feet
Foot care does not have to be involved or mean getting out of your chair.
Lie back and put your feet up on a pillow. Elevating them will decrease swelling from all the stress we have put our feet in a day’s work.
Foot Massage
Massage your feet by rolling them over a tennis ball. This will stretch the tight muscles in your arches and aid in quick recovery.
Still, experiencing pain? See your podiatrist.
Never forget that you can talk to medical professionals about your options for proper foot care. If you are experiencing chronic pain, the pain worsens, or you have numbness or tingling in your feet, you must visit a podiatrist.
Do you work on your feet all day and experience foot pain? For a preferred podiatrist in the south Florida area, call 954-906-9272. Offices conveniently located in Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs & Plantation.