From retail workers to restaurant servers, foot pain at work can be frustrating for many people. If you work in an industry where you spend a lot of time on your feet, foot pain can interrupt your productivity, affect your mood, and affect the rest of your day. After work, you may have had plans to go for a run or walk, but after a draining day on your feet, you might just want to do nothing and wait for the foot pain to subside.
Luckily, Feet First Clinic is happy to promote ways you can maintain healthy feet. We’re here to talk about some ways you can alleviate and prevent foot pain at work. Foot pain is not normal, and even though you spend most of your shift standing, you don’t have to put up with the pain any longer. If you want to take your foot care to the next level, you can also book regular visits with a chiropodist.
How Can I Prevent Foot Pain at Work?
- Wear comfortable footwear
- Incorporate foot stretches into your routine
- Take sitting breaks
- Enjoy a foot bath
- Try some foot care products
Wear Comfortable Footwear
This is a given, but you need to be wearing comfortable footwear that fits properly to avoid foot pain at work. Your shoes should fit snugly, give you enough toe room, and not place too much pressure on the foot’s weight-bearing areas. The heel elevation, the material used on the body of the shoe, and the outsole and midsole(responsible for shock absorption) are also important factors. Insoles and custom orthotics should also be considered if you’re prone to painful foot conditions.
To achieve your goal of pain-free feet, you can look into these footwear focused services offered by a licensed Chiropodist:
Incorporate Foot Stretches Into Your Routine
Foot stretches that target Achilles tendon pain, Plantar fasciitis, top of the foot pain, toe pain, or any other foot soreness that’s been bothersome can be a lifesaver. They’re all easy to learn and take less than 5 minutes at a time. At the beginning and the end of the day, you should take the time to do your foot stretches. After a while, this will alleviate the foot pain you experience at work, and in time, prevent it all together.
Click for demonstrations of a few of our favourite foot stretches:
Take Sitting Breaks
If you’re working on your feet for long hours, you should make sure you take sitting breaks. If you’re in-between shoes and still have to wear an ill-fitting pair, you should sit down and take your shoes off for the duration of your break. During this time, you can even try to get some of your foot stretching in! Try to avoid standing during your break if you have been standing all day. A break from standing can get you through the remainder of your shift and alleviate a lot of pressure on the weight-bearing areas of your feet.
Enjoy a Foot bath
A Foot bath at the end of the day can soothe your aching feet and prevent pain from progressing. Before bed, soaking your feet in hot water Reduces inflammation, which sets you up for a better morning. Hot water also stimulates circulation and blood flow. Foot baths aren’t just great for foot pain! They can also soften your skin, alleviate stress, and fight fatigue. For even more benefits, you can incorporate Epsom salt and essential oils into your foot baths.
Try Some Foot Care Products
Foot pain at work doesn’t just come in the form of aching and soreness. Working hard on your feet all day can also lead to blisters, calluses, corns, cracked heels, and more. One foot care brand we can’t get enough of is Gehwol. They make products designed to alleviate the pain associated with these irritable foot conditions. They make balms, creams, salves and other fantastic products full of medicinal ingredients meant to soothe your feet. These ingredients include Vaseline, medicated soap, menthol, and many more.
Do You Have Foot Pain At Work? Let Us Help!
Our Toronto foot specialists are here 6 days a week and can handle all of your foot health concerns. Our downtown foot clinic staff will be happy to answer any questions or inquiries. From mild, to critical, we cover all sides of the foot needs spectrum. Call us to ask about actionable steps towards your solution today!
Call us at 416-769-FEET(3338) or Book Your Assessment Today!