Whether hard at work or deep in play, standing for extended periods of time can really do a number on your legs, feet, and back. Every year in the US, thousands of work-related injuries and sick days are taken due to problems related to standing all day on the job. Turns out construction workers are not the only group prone to foot injuries. Today, professions such as waiters, casino workers, bank tellers, store hands, security guards, teachers and many more call for extensive hours of standing in one spot.
Not only does standing increase the risk of adverse foot problems, but it also puts additional strain on particular bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. In an ideal world, there would be safety considerations for jobs where standing is a real occupational hazard. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Even if our jobs are really bad for our health and well-being, we still have to show up and put in the hours to make a living. But this is no excuse to neglect your health as well as that of your feet. If you have to stand all day on the job, here are a few simple tips that will help ease your pain and avoid the risk of developing a slew of health issues.
Getting Through the Day, Standing All Day at Work
Switch Up Your Stance
Clearly the easiest and most obvious solution of them all, the first step towards coping with your standing job should be to stand differently. While most people immediately think that their solutions only lies in resting and exercising, it’s amazing how they forget the most important aspect of standing; how you do it. By modifying your daily standing posture as many times as possible, you allow certain muscles to take a load off and others to grab their shift. If your job calls for incessant standing, ensure that you use postures that engage the interior core for a while, and then switch to others that activate the glutes for more support and pelvic tilt.
Break Up Your Day With Relief Postures
The number one rule of coping with a job that requires standing is to learn how to become a professional fidgeter. Only robots can assume one position without getting extremely exhausted. After standing for a couple of hours, try to break up your day with some helpful relief postures. Simply put, find time to lean, sit down, take a load off, go into a half kneel or even lay down on your back a bit. Of course, we have to admit that laying down on the job can seem a bit extreme and irregular. However, jobs like being a hairdresser or a chef can really take a toll on your back. If you find an opportunity to sit down, make sure you take advantage. Have all your breaks and lunch in a fully seated position before heading back to your post.
Avoid High Heels and Ill-Fitting Shoes At All Costs
After being on your feet the whole day, you will definitely know what your shoes are made off. People who wear heels and improper footwear may catch a break because their jobs probably involves a lot of sitting and walking. However, try wearing a narrow show that you’ll have to wear for a full day of standing. Not only could bad shoes lead to unsightly calluses and painful bunions, but they could also give you quite the unhealthy standing posture. Instead of heels and ill-fitting shoes, make sure you wear shoes that fit you well and have enough room to wiggle your toes.
Extra Foot Care and Maintenance
Of course, avoiding all the health issues that come with a job that has you on your feet all day does not start and end at the office. Once you get home, your loyal soldiers need some tender loving and care so as to survive another brutal day at the mines. After innumerable hours of holding your entire weight, your feet deserve something nice at the end of the day too. One of the most popular ways to rejuvenate is by taking a foot bath. There’s nothing like soaking up your blistered feet in some warm water and Epsom salts to reduce the swelling and hopefully reverse the damage. After a great soak, you could ask a masseuse, friend or your spouse to give you a good rubdown and massage all the tension away.
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