Many people work on their feet all day, from waitresses and healthcare workers to teachers and cashiers. If you are one of them, by the end of the day you probably can’t wait to get home and put your feet up. But the important thing is to take precautions while you are on your feet all day so that you won’t fall prey to foot problems caused by prolonged standing. If you are on your feet for several hours every day, you run the risk of problems like swollen feet, foot pain, varicose veins, and possibly back problems. Here are some tips to help you avoid these problems.
Get to Know Your Feet
Most people take their feet for granted until there’s a problem. Here are some facts about your feet that you may not know.
Foot Facts
- Each of your feet contains 33 joints, 26 bones, 19 muscles and 107 ligaments.
- Approximately a quarter of all your bones are in your feet.
- Women typically have up to four times as many problems with their feet as men.
- Walking is the best exercise you can give your feet.
- Your feet reflect your overall health. Conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and circulatory disorders can show symptoms in your feet.
- There more than a quarter of a million sweat glands in your feet. Between them, they produce up to half a pint of moisture a day.
- On average you will take 8,000 to 10,000 steps each day.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
If your job involves standing all day, wearing the right shoes is important. Make sure you get your feet measured so you know exactly what size you need. A surprising number of people wear shoes that are too small for them. As well as the general size you need to pay attention to the shoes’ width so they are not putting extra pressure on your feet and you have enough room to allow for proper circulation. If you are a woman you should avoid high heels. Over time they will cause aches and pains in your calf and back muscles. Instead, choose shoes that have a small or flat heel. Make Alegria your first stop for comfortable footwear.
Use Orthotics
Orthotic devices are designed to align your feet and ankles into the most comfortable and ergonomic position. They look like insoles but they are medical devices designed to correct any foot imbalance. You should have your orthotics custom made so that they reduce strain on specific areas of your feet. By realigning and redirecting certain motions, orthotics will correct your gait and prevent pain when you’re walking or standing. They fit into your shoes comfortably because they are made from precise imprints of your feet.
Rest Your Feet
When you get home from work it’s time to relax and take care of your feet. Here are some ways you can soothe sore feet.
Give yourself a foot massage: If you don’t have a foot massager, place a tennis ball on the floor and roll your feet over it from heel to toe. If you’re on your feet all day, most days, it might be worth investing in a foot massager.
Put your feet up: Putting your feet up on a stool, a pile of pillows, or resting them against a wall will help reduce the swelling that has built up over the day.
Soak away the strain: A great way to reduce pain and swelling and to relax your muscles is to soak your feet in an Epsom salts bath. The magnesium content of the salt will soothe your feet. Add ½ cup of Epsom salts to a large bowl of hot water and soak your feet for 10-15 minutes.
Consider acupuncture: Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles at specific points on your body. It’s designed to restore the flow of your chi energy and remove any blockages which may be causing discomfort. It can be used to treat ankle pain, heel tendonitis, foot swelling and joint pain.
If you have been experiencing foot pain for more than three weeks or it is becoming severe, it’s time to see a podiatrist. A podiatrist is a healthcare professional who specializes in disorders of the feet. They treat foot pain with a variety of approaches depending on the cause. A podiatrist will easily be able to discern the cause of your foot pain and recommend a treatment.
Sometimes business doesn’t work out quite as planned. Eric Johnson graduated from Wake Forest University with an MBA in marketing and entrepreneurship, and he and his wife Allison founded Cowboy Jungle, Inc. and started selling discount apparel in 2001. Slowly, over the course of a few years, they pivoted toward selling medical scrubs. But the big break came in 2007 when Eric Johnson picked up a book called Digital Marketing for Dummies. Today, Cowboy Jungle, Inc. focuses on taking the websites of businesses that focus on a specific product and pushing them to the forefront of their categories with annual company revenue approaching $13 million. In the early days, our primary clients were 55+, nurses and school teachers.
I have learned some very interesting facts about feet. Great article.