When you’re working hard on your feet around the clock, it can do a number on the health of your back and legs. In a 2014 survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association with 1000 American adults, almost half of the respondents complained of some food acne and discomfort. In the United Kingdom, the workdays lost to lower limb disorders amounted to 2.4 million. One of the hardest-hit populations of this problem is the workers who work and stand on concrete all day.
Whether they were working in a restaurant line, a hair salon, a retail worker, or a construction worker—they all struggled from sore feet. This is why it is essential to take optimum care of your feet so you can go toward living a healthy and happy life. It is possible to elevate and prevent sore feet from standing and walking on concrete all day, and we are going to show you how in this article.
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Stop Foot Pain From Walking on Concrete
Right Shoes
When you’re working on your feet, you might always believe flat sole shoes to be the practical option. However, these types of shoes are not recommended for standing for long durations. According to Canada’s Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc., the heel of your shoe should have at least an elevation of ¼ inch and below 2 inches.
Shoes for workers must provide adequate arch support, as it reduces soreness and weakness in the legs. If your shoes fail to offer you these qualities, they will not be able to provide you with the support you require. For this, you can purchase shoes with supportive insoles from an athletic shoe to drugstore.
Right Fit
It is not enough to only purchase the right shoes, and they must also have the perfect fit according to your feet. Many people wear shoes that run small to their size. This ends up cutting the circulation in your feet and increasing the chances of developing blisters (making walking more uncomfortable). Getting the shoes that provide the right fit according to your pronation and measurements will save you the discomfort as you go on.
A board-certified foot surgeon and podiatrist from New York, Johanna Youner, suggests purchasing and trying on shoes in the latter part of the day. She insists that your feet generally get larger by the end of the day and that buying a pair of shoes that run at least half-size larger will be beneficial.
Stretch It Out
When you walk all day, your muscles can generally become painful and stiff. It is imperative for people who work on concrete to take a break every hour or so and stretch. We recommend you to relax and take time to lengthen your tightened muscles.
One of the recommended stretches that can work is calf raises. They help you pump the blood out of your feet and circulate it into your body back again.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Stand straight at the edge of a platform and pull your abdominal muscles in.
- Let your heels hang over the edge by securing the balls of your fit firmly.
- Raise your heels a few inches while standing firmly on your tiptoes.
- Hold a few seconds.
- Repeat at least 10-20 times.
Other great stretches you can perform are the runner’s stretch, toe curls, big toe stretch, and even tennis ball roll.
Take Care Of Your Feet At Home
When you’re home, you can take some time to help your feet recover from the entire day’s stress and prep them for the next day. Here are some home remedies you can perform on your feet to get them back in good shape:
Ice your feet
This is an age-old technique, although it doesn’t sit well with many people. Immersing your foot in a large bucket or tub of ice for at least 20 minutes will help resolve the inflammation and swelling developed from standing too much. Every step that we take can create micro-damage, and our bodies need to heal. Using ice will help your body faster efficiently and effectively. You can avoid this step if you have any vascular problems.
Massage your feet
The tennis ball technique, as mentioned above, is an excellent method to help relieve stress and tightness from your feet. It provides a gentle massage all the way from your feet to the arches and helps your body recover faster.
Elevate your feet
One of the ways to rest your feet from the entire day’s work is by propping them a little above the rest of your body. It will help decrease swelling and inflammation. This can be done either against a wall or under a stack of pillows.
When To Seek Professional Help?
If your feet’ soreness increases and the pain continues, then it’s time to make an appointment and see a doctor. Chances are your feet can experience stinging, numbness, and tingling, and that is always a sign of something going wrong. You do not have to walk through the pain. If you don’t seek professional help, your condition could worsen, ending up in bone spurs and even plantar fasciitis.
Recommended Shoes
When you’re spending more than half of your day on concrete, your feet certainly deserve better shoes: a shoe that provides cushioning, high-durability, supportive features, and incomparable traction and flexibility. The shoes we are going to mention here contain all the superb qualities.
For women, we consider the Skechers Work Sure Track to be the best option. It comes with a rubber sole along with a durable and robust leather upper. All you have to do is be careful of the size.
For men, the recommended picks will be Timberland Pro Powertrain Sports Shoe and Loom Sneakers. Both of this footwear have attributes that can make them an excellent choice for working, walking, and standing on concrete for prolonged hours. These shoes also provide a stylish yet professional look, so you do not have to worry about that!
Brandon R. Katz is a registered professional nurse who has been instrumental in providing us with an informed opinion on the medical aspects of footwear. He graduated from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and currently provides his services at a non-federal long-term care hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
Brandon proves to be the champion in the group of expert writers with his in-depth knowledge in foot health, how to take care of it adequately, and what shoes, socks, or insoles will be supreme for you. He has previously worked with hospitals where he has foreseen both inpatient and outpatient departments and has been a practicing nurse since 2009.
Brandon hails from Jersey City, NY, and has a loving family of four with a small popper called Rozo. His decision to become a nurse arises from the desire to be in the position of helping and rehabilitating people.
