How do you keep your feet from hurting when standing on concrete?

Did you know that standing all day on concrete could do a number on not only your feet but also on your lower back? Well statistics collected from the Health and Safety Executive Department of the UK government shows that over 2.4 million work days were lost from 2009 to 2010 due to lower limb disorders caused by standing on concrete for far too long.

A publication by Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers shows that standing for too long on hard floors starts affecting your feet where they feel fatigued and pained. You then feel pain on your knees, thighs and lower back. Finally, you might feel pain on your neck!

The problem affects people working in the construction industry, casino dealers, health workers, teachers, waiters, factory, warehouse and airport workers. Unfortunately the loss of a work day could mean the loss of that day’s wage. You will therefore need to make sure that you adhere to all the instructions that we give in this article on how to keep your feet from hurting when standing for too long on concrete.

So,

How do you keep your feet from hurting when standing on concrete?

The best way to keep your feet from hurting when standing on concrete is to wear shoes that feature 24/7 Comfort Suspension technology like timberland pro men’s 6″ pit boss steel-toe boots.  The  24/7 Comfort Suspension technology is a unique comfort system that helps reduce foot fatigue, support the arch and cushion every step.

Here are some more tips on how to relieve pain in sore feet from standing on concrete all day:

1. Wear the right shoe for your job

Wearing comfortable work boots for walking on concrete all day is the holy grail to preventing hurting feet. When you are standing for too long on concrete, you are exerting lots of pressure on your toes, ball, arch and the heels. You will therefore need an excellent shoe that absorbs some if not all of this pressure and shock. We advise that you get a shoe with a thick outsole, a sturdy shank and a well padded insole.

The Canadian Occupational Health Experts say that your shoe should have a heel not less than a ¼ inch and not more than 2 inches.

With all these, you will not feel too much pressure on your feet.

At the same time, your work boot should be breathable so that sweat from the feet is able to easily evaporate leaving you feeling cool and comfortable. Without this, your feet will be clammy and this could eventually lead to blisters.

Also Read: Best Work Boots for Sore Feet

2. Move around and stretch if you can

If it is possible to steal some few breaks during the day, use them to stretch your feet. Remove your shoes and place your feet on lush green grass. Walk around with your bare feet as they enjoy the cool breeze of the outside. Try to pick up things with your toes and move them around. Make some small circles with your ankles as you stand. You could also try to lift your heels off the ground and stand on your toes for a few minutes.

3. See a podiatrist if things are thick in the thin

When things get thick in the thin, it is time to throw in the towel and call in a podiatrist to have a look at your feet. Listen to them and take whatever medication or treatment that they ask you to. Johanna Youner, a certified foot surgeon in New York City says that when you start feeling numbness, a tingling or a sting on your feet, it is the high time to see your doctor. He continues to say that it is wrong to walk through pain since it never recuperates; it just gets worse day after day.

4. Take care of your feet at home

When you get home after a long day of working and standing on your feet, it is time to treat them. You can do so by placing some ice below your arches for a few minutes and let the ice take away some of the pressure and pain that you could be feeling.

Other foot care techniques that you can try out include acupuncture, trimming your calluses and corns, a foot massage and washing your feet with warm water.

5. Make sure your shoes fit or a size bigger

Wearing tightly fitting shoes will only make things more uncomfortable and painful for you. You will therefore need to look for loose fitting shoes or some that are a titbit wider than your feet. The secret to buying shoes is going to your local shoe dealer in the afternoon. During this time, your feet are larger than in the morning. You will therefore choose a size that is big enough to accommodate your feet at their largest size.

Also See: How to Break in a New Pair of Boots Quickly

6. Get some good arch supports

You could try getting some good arch supports as inserts to your shoes. The arch supports which are made of high quality foam will absorb most of the impact on your feet.

Related: Best rubber boots for concrete work

7. Elevate one feet at a time

When you raise one foot and place it on a platform, the other will be holding your weight. The raised leg will feel less fatigued and you could then bring it down so that you raise the other. This improves your blood circulation while at the same time relieving the pain and fatigue on both your feet.

8. Keep your weight down

It is a no-brainer; the heavier you are, the more weight that your feet have to bear. WebMd therefore advises that you need to check on your weight if you really want to beat pain caused by standing for too long. Dr. Paul Talusan who is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan echoes these words saying that if you want to cut out foot pain, cut on your weight.

9. Modify the floor surface

For people who stand on one spot for too long in a day, you could modify that standing area so that it is friendly to your feet. This can be done by buying thick mats to place on those surfaces so that your feet do not get too much pressure exerted on them. The thick mat will act as a cushion that cuts out some of this pressure from your feet thus reducing foot pain caused by standing and walking on concrete for long.

10. Keep your floor clean and dry

Organizations need to keep their floors clean and dry so that their workers can maintain the safety of their feet. Any debris on the floor could cause a slip or a fall. At the same time, stepping on hard, coarse pieces of wood or hardcore could hurt your feet.

Also Read: Women’s work boots for concrete floors

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