Do you have to stand all day for your job?

Do you maintain moment-by-moment awareness of your feet and how well they’re holding up to the rigors of your work?

I’m guessing you don’t, but that’s okay. When were you (or anyone for that matter) ever taught to pay attention to the health of your feet all day long?

But then you have pain in your feet or ankles. Or, you experience lower back pain.

What can you do so this pain goes away and doesn’t become a larger issue?

Here’s a few things:

1. Wear the Right Shoes for What You Do

“Right” in this context means appropriate for your working conditions. Take a look at a couple examples so you understand what I mean:

• If you work in an office, sitting down can actually impact the health of your feet quite negatively, just like standing up might in other professions. Lightweight shoes that allow your feet to breathe work best in office settings.
• If you work in a factory where you need steel-toed boots, you want ones designed to absorb shock and return energy to your feet.

So think carefully about your work conditions and what footwear would keep your feet comfortable throughout the day.

2. Care for Your Feet Throughout the Week

You brush your teeth at least twice a day, don’t you?

Just like your teeth, your feet require ongoing care to stay in top shape and avoid injury or disease.

Here’s what you might do:

• Moisturize your feet daily. Don’t get moisturizer between your toes, as that can lead to infection.
• Never wear tight-fitting shoes. Looser is always healthier for your feet.
• Clean (but don’t soak) your feet in lukewarm water daily.
• Buy at least two pairs of shoes at once and rotate them daily. Avoid wearing the same pair two days in a row.
• Check your feet daily for corns, calluses, Athlete’s foot, cuts, swelling, soreness, and infected toenails. When you notice pain or discomfort, address the issue immediately.

3. Do Simple Exercises

You should exercise your feet every day, and especially so if you’ve worked a shift where you stand most of the time.

Do these to keep your feet in top shape:

• Raise your feet off the ground and draw circles with them while wiggling your toes
• While sitting, put a plastic bottle beneath your feet and roll it backward and forward to stretch your soles
• Throw a sock on the ground. Grab it with your toes and hold it in the air for 15 seconds.

So yes, just because you stand doesn’t mean you need to be in pain all day. Following these tips will greatly reduce your current pain and discomfort and eliminate it in the long-term.