Protecting Your Foot Health While Working

Over 25 percent of the human body’s 206 bones are located in the feet. In addition to 26 bones per foot, each foot has over 100 ligaments, tendons, and muscles, and 30 joints.

Your foot health impacts your mobility, and your feet can alert you to other health issues, such as diabetes, anemia, arthritis, and osteoporosis. Foot health issues can also cause secondary health problems. For example, you may be less active and avoid exercise if you suffer from chronic foot pain. This can lead to weight gain, increasing your risk of developing diabetes or heart disease. Consequently, protecting your foot health prevents discomfort and supports your overall health. Let’s explore how you can protect your foot health while you’re working.

Use support insoles

Use support insoles

Arch support insoles are made from materials such as gel or foam. The nonslip pads on the heels keep the insoles in place inside your shoes. Orthopedic arch support inserts have an anatomical design, enabling them to support your foot’s natural form. Using insoles prevents your plantar fascia from becoming inflamed, causing the heel pain that characterizes plantar fasciitis. The anatomical arch also prevents and relieves arch pain.

You may opt to use other arch insoles to address different health issues. Suppose you suffer from chronic back or knee pain. Misalignment can cause these issues, which you can correct by using neutral or adaptable arch supports that promote proper alignment when you’re standing, walking, and running.

Heel pain’s a symptom of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. Alleviate heel pain with arch and heel support from orthotic inserts. Use supporting insoles for regular activities or opt for running insoles when jogging or playing sports.

Select insoles suited to your work duties. Cashiers and bank tellers may stand for extended periods but not move around much, while construction workers and security guards may walk around their worksites throughout their shifts. Also, choose insoles suited to your foot health issues to address them properly.

Customize your work environment

Customize your work environment

Your work environment can impact how much time you spend on your feet. It takes less time to move items and access resources with an efficient setup.

Suppose you’re opening a restaurant and want to ensure your foot health in the kitchen. Apply for direct financing from Reno restaurant equipment and lease the best equipment for your needs. By installing under-counter freezers, you can minimize the time spent carrying items from your freezers to your refrigerators. Invest in a commercial dishwasher, minimizing the time required to clean dishes.

Investing in customized prep tables, such as pizza prep tables, ensures you have easy access to the toppings needed to make pizzas. Consequently, you won’t have to keep going to the fridge or pantry to get the toppings you need.

Invest in quality footwear

Invest in quality footwear

Wear shoes that are the right size to prevent discomfort. Narrow and short shoes will pinch your feet, causing health issues like hammertoes, corns, and blisters. While corns and blisters cause discomfort, hammertoes will affect your alignment and cause knee, hip, and back pain.

Poor ventilation and tight shoes can cause athlete’s foot, which produces a rash on the sole of your foot. Severe cases of athlete’s foot can make it painful to walk.

Unless you’re a model or actor, avoid wearing high-heeled shoes. High heels shift your foot’s alignment and cause issues such as hammertoes, bunions, and callouses. Support your feet, reduce foot strain, and prevent misalignment by wearing flat shoes with immovable heels.

You may need steel-toe boots or other footwear suitable for your work environment. For example, construction workers need steel-toe boots to protect their feet from workplace hazards, while those in kitchens or hospitals should invest in nonslip shoes.

Foot pain can affect your ability to work or enjoy recreational activities. You can protect your foot health by using orthotic insoles, customizing your work environment, and wearing suitable footwear.