By Rehan Iqbal
It’s no secret; spending long, extensive hours on your feet can really do a number on various parts of your body. If your legs don’t give out, your back will definitely have lots to complain about at the end of the day. From nurses, restaurant workers, clerks, flight attendants and bank tellers, all these professions make you painfully aware of all the hazards and risks that come with standing all day.
But even with some of these jobs taking up over 12 hours of your time every day, management still requires you to look and dress professionally. This means that comfy slippers and sneakers are out of the equation. Fortunately, technological advancements and clever innovations now mean that you don’t have to wallow in pain anymore. If you’re aching to give your feet a break, here are the top products that help with standing all day jobs.
Products That Help Comfort your Feet
Compression Socks
Since you are categorically going to be on your feet the entire day, you might as well make sure that they are as comfortable as possible. Granted that your boss may have a say on the type of footwear you wear, what he doesn’t have is the power to dictate your type of socks you pick out.
Compression socks and stockings help reduce the pain in your feet and legs by improving the flow of blood. Studies have shown that ailments such as varicose veins and other venous diseases that affect the legs are significantly accelerated by standing for long hours. With compression stockings, you get the added benefits of rejuvenation and returned energy to the feet.
Arch Support and Orthotics
Orthotics are custom made insoles that are designed to provide additional support to certain areas of your foot. Since the insole is designed for your particular foot shape, it offers more arch support while also absorbing the pressure and shock that come with standing all day at work.
This significantly reduces leg, foot and back pains while also reducing the risk of a slew of leg and foot conditions. Orthotics are especially helpful since they can be used to prevent as well as remedy issues like plantar fasciitis and over-pronation. On a side not, make sure you buy shoes at least one size bigger if you are going to insert custom insoles.
Use Anti-Fatigue Mats
For a workplace that calls for incredibly long hours of standing, nothing beats the comfort and support of anti-fatigue mats. These mats are specifically designed to reduce the stress and pressure on your feet by offering a highly cushioned surface to stand on.
Typically, anti-fatigue mats and carpets are made of thick, buoyant rubber, leather, vinyl or even wood. In fact, any other surface that offers more cushioning than concrete will be very easy on the feet.
Night Splints
Night splints work in pretty much the same way as compression socks; the only difference is that they are much stronger and can’t be worn with shoes. They are worn when you are off the job or at night when you are sleeping so as to provide a constant, compressing force to the feet.
This helps in providing additional support and encouraging the Achilles tendons and plantar fascia to stretch and heal from a long, hard day.
Buy Shoes Made for Standing All Day
That’s right, all your foot issues and health problems can be solved by buying the right type of footwear. The same way that athletes need running shoes and construction workers need safety boots; there are specialized shoes that make standing a breeze.
Fortunately, shoes like Crocs can be found in almost every shoe store since more and more manufacturers are now considering the woes of the modern workplace. Typically, shoes for standing all day offer incredible shock absorption, additional cushioning on the midsole, extra traction on the outsole and removable insoles for people who prefer their own custom insoles.
Conclusion
With these and more affordable products, you can now focus on the job at hand instead of looking for the next best standing positions. While you can’t avoid standing at work, you can take the necessary steps to ensure that your feet are in tip-top shape for both now as well as the future. Neglecting your legs and feet could have adverse long-term effects that may take years to manifest. Trust me; it’s better to spend about $10 buying some of these products instead of risking your health and well-being.
