In America, some employees spend almost 90% of their time standing or walking when at work. There can be a lot of health issues associated with standing around all day, and naturally, foot pain is one of the biggest ones.
In this article, let’s talk about why this happens, and how to relieve foot pain from standing all day.
Further Reading: 10 Signs It’s Time to See a Podiatrist
Why Do Feet Hurt From Standing All Day?
The reality is that your feet have to absorb all of the weight and force that you put on them throughout the day. If you do this for several hours at a time, then your feet are undergoing constant pressure.
It can cause several issues. Here are some of the potential reasons why you have feet pain from standing:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Bunions
- Varicose veins
Let’s expand on how some of these cause foot pain when standing:
Varicose veins happen because more blood flow is going through your feet and ankles, causing the veins to enlarge. It’s not just uncomfortable, but it can also require unpleasant cosmetic effects. People have even been hospitalized for this condition.
Plantar fasciitis is another one. This is inflammation that starts in your heel bone and extends to your toes.
If you have heel pain, you may want to see a podiatrist in Roswell. It’s possibly a result of repetitive overload from standing for a long time.
Another reason for the pain is muscular fatigue. Even half an hour at a time can cause muscular discomfort and fatigue in your legs and feet. Your body isn’t designed for this type of sustained standing.
That being said, what are some of the solutions to sore feet from standing all day?
How To Stop Foot Pain From Standing All Day
Podiatrists (foot doctors) often hear patients say things like “my feet hurt from standing 8 hours!” And luckily, there are several ways to treat sore feet after work and finally enjoy comfort again.
That being said, let’s look at how to relieve foot pain from standing all day:
1. Be Kind To Your Feet With Orthotics
Orthotics are a type of custom fit insole that provides extra cushioning and distributes the weight across your feet more evenly.
Since foot issues that lead to pain are often due to an imbalance of pressure on small spots in your feet, a specialist can help you distribute the weight more evenly.
This will make you more comfortable as you’re standing at work while also minimizing pain and long-term problems.
For instance, these types of insoles or orthotics can support the arc in your foot to relieve tendon pain and damage and expand the surface area that your weight is distributed across. Talk to a podiatrist to get a custom fit for this.
2. Stretch
If you truly want to know how to stop foot pain from standing all day, then lifestyle choices must be considered.
Yoga and stretching have been proven to have a variety of health benefits.
They help increase blood flow, relax you, and strengthen your muscles and tendons. Any one of these benefits alone would be enough to contribute to less foot pain and less discomfort.
It’s particularly important that you engage in some kind of stretching routine either before or after work when you’re on your feet all day. It can cause your muscles to tense and be less flexible.
A few common poses that can help foot and ankle pain are hero’s pose, downward dog, and bound angle pose.
3. Get Rid Of Flip-Flops
Flip-flops are pretty bad for your body, but especially your feet. They’re flat and they provide zero support. A lot of people who wear flip-flops all day find that their feet hurt at the end of the day.
If you wear flip-flops too often, it could result in plantar fasciitis. It could make your arch flat. It could even trigger tendonitis in your toes because you tend to scrunch your toes as you walk in flip-flops.
From there, the pain can radiate. So you won’t just have foot discomfort but also knee pain from standing all day in flip flops.
4. Take A Break When You Can
If your feet hurt after standing all day, you need to give your lower body a chance to ease off on so much circulation.
When it’s constantly having to pump blood to and from your lower extremities, you’re essentially overworking that part of your body. Try to get off your feet when you can throughout the day and relax your lower body.
5. Improve Your Posture
Bad posture isn’t just something that looks bad. It also is really bad for your muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments. Bad posture can cause an imbalance, which makes certain muscles tighter while other muscles get weaker.
It’s a vicious cycle which contributes to more pain, worse posture, and eventually potential foot issues that need surgery to correct. Custom insoles, consistent stretching, and simply awareness can alleviate this.
For instance, some ways to correct your posture are to keep your knees slightly bent, and let your arms dangle naturally to the side of your body. Also, try to stand with your shoulder back and your chin slightly upwards.
Aim to put the weight mostly along the balls of your feet rather than the heels of your feet or toes.
6. Physical Therapy
In terms of how to soothe sore feet from standing all day, PT sessions are excellent.
A trained physical therapist can help relax your muscles with certain exercises, massages, and other approaches. This will improve circulation and strength in your feet.
One thing you can do by yourself is to take a tennis ball and roll it, roll the bottom of your feet across it for about two minutes before and after work. It will help relax the ligaments and muscles in your feet and reduce pain.
Feet Hurt From Standing? See A Podiatrist In Roswell
Properly diagnosing the source of your foot pain is important to feel better quickly. It’s also crucial that you prevent potential long-term issues that might not just be painful but dangerous.
Contact The Advanced Foot and Ankle Institute of Georgia to get in touch with a qualified podiatrist in Marietta.
