Striking a good balance between standing, sitting, and moving around throughout the day is optimal for the human body. But what do you do if your job requires you to stand most of the time? Prolonged standing (standing for more than 8 hours) puts an abundance of pressure on your feet, joints and back, and can cause ongoing circulation problems in the feet and legs (chronic venous insufficiency) with symptoms such as swelling (edema), varicose veins, and even leg ulcers should the condition progress. To help ease the burden you put on your body by working on your feet all day, try to sit as much as possible during breaks, move around whenever you can and change standing positions frequently to shift body weight around. You should also try to soften your knees, use a wide stance to balance your weight evenly, engage your core whenever possible to relieve stress on your feet and knees, and stand on a cushioned mat if possible. Above all else, wear good shoes that fit well, offer proper heel and arch support, and have a sole that’s wider than the heel. If you contact a podiatrist, they can offer additional advice on proper footwear, create custom orthotics to support your particular foot and ankle structure all day, and address issues you may be experiencing in those areas.
While working on the feet, it is important to take the proper care of them. For more information about working on your feet, contact Bruce Smit, DPM from Frankfort Foot & Ankle Clinic. Our doctor will treat your foot and ankle needs.
Working on Your Feet
Standing on your feet for long periods of time can cause stress and pain in your feet. Your whole body may experience change in terms of posture, back pain, bunions, callouses and or plantar warts. There are ways to avoid these conditions with proper foot care, smart choices and correct posture.
Positive Changes
Negative heeled shoe – Choosing this shoe type places the heel slightly lower than the ball of the foot. These are great for overall foot health. Find shoes that fit you correctly.
Go barefoot – Our feet were not designed to be enclosed for all hours of the day. Try to periodically expose your feet to air.
Eliminate Pain
Foot Exercises – Performing simple exercises, incorporating yoga and doing stretches are beneficial. This will allow increased blood flow to the area and muscles of the foot.
Achilles tendon – Stretching the foot out flat on the floor will relax the calf muscles and tendon. These exercises can be performed almost anywhere. Make sure you add these exercises to your daily regimen.
With a little bit of this information and knowing more about foot health, you will notice changes. Foot stretches and proper footwear will help with pain and prevent further issues.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Frankfort, IL . We offer the newest diagnostic and treatment technologies for all your foot and ankle needs.
