Tips if you work long hours on your feet

Working long hours on your feet can take a toll on your overall health. Therefore, if this is your case, there are some measures you can take to be able to spend your entire working day without putting your current or future health at risk.
In this article we share with you the risks you face from spending long hours on your feet and some tips you can apply in your day-to-day life to make it more bearable.  

Risks of working long hours on your feet

If you spend many hours on your feet at work, either in motion or in a static position, your body suffers.
Some of the risks of working long hours on your feet are:

• Fatigue and muscle tension when maintaining a standing posture for a long time.
  This increases the risk of muscle injury.
• Back pain. Your spine supports the weight of your entire body and your back muscles contract to maintain your posture, which can cause compression of the spinal discs.
• Foot problems such as pain, calluses or blisters due to constant pressure on the ground.
• Circulatory problems such as fluid accumulation in the legs, swelling, pain, varicose veins or, in extreme cases, blood clots.
• Joint problems in the spine, foot, hip or knee joints.
• Damage to tendons and ligaments, which increases the risk of rheumatic disorders.

To avoid these risks, we would like to share with you some tips you should follow to take care of your feet if you work long hours on your feet.  

Tips for taking care of your feet if you work long hours on your feet

Now that you know the risks you face, let’s look at some solutions that can help you.  

Constantly changes posture

To promote blood circulation and avoid fluid retention, it is important to wiggle your toes and change your posture from time to time.
Spending too much time on your feet may cause your body to contract, so you should also take into account your upper body and modify your lumbar posture or the position of your neck. Be sure to keep your shoulders relaxed, your back straight and your feet slightly apart.

Opt for appropriate footwear

If you are going to be on your feet for several hours, you should wear appropriate footwear.
In this case, look for comfortable shoes with cushioned and soft soles, with a good arch to provide cushioning and support, that are breathable and that fit your foot correctly, without compressing it.
If you can, avoid shoes with very high heels or narrow toes.
And in the event that you must wear safety shoes to protect your feet from any accidents, make sure you invest in good shoes and choose the right size to avoid corns or ingrown toenails.  

Uses Smou Inoles

Our goal at Smou is to help you take care of your feet so that pain does not slow you down and you can avoid future pathologies.
For this reason, we have several Inoles that can help you.
In this case, if you do not have any pathology or anatomical condition you can use:

• Smou Comfort for healthy feet looking for comfort.
• Smou Comfort Premium for healthy feet looking for comfort and internal arch support.
  Ideal for work footwear.

If you have a cavus foot, your Insole are Smou Cavus Foot which provide support to the external arch to avoid overloading your heel and pads. If you have a flat foot, your Insole are Smou Flat Foot which provide shape and support to the internal arch to improve rest in your feet and legs. And if you have any pathology or other anatomical condition, you should ideally use the Smou Insole indicated for it.
In any case, you can write to us to ask us which would be the best insole for your specific case.

Wear compression socks

When you spend so much time on your feet, circulatory problems are very common.
To curb them, you can wear compression socks.
This type of sock exerts tension on the dermal tissue of your feet to keep circulation stable and minimize fluid retention. Nowadays you can find them in different materials and designs.  

Choose smooth surfaces

The surface on which you stand is also important, although it is often the one at your workstation and cannot be chosen.
The ideal is to stand on a less aggressive surface such as wood, rubber, grass or carpet, because the harder the floor, the more fatigue it will cause.  

Includes a stretching routine

Stretching can help you get through the day better.
Take a moment to do some stretches such as flexing and extending your legs, doing ankle circles or raising and lowering your heels.
They will help reduce muscle tension while improving your flexibility.  

Take regular breaks

Whenever your work allows it, take breaks where you can sit for a while to recharge your batteries or relax your body. If possible, you can even incorporate an auxiliary seat with a footrest and adjustable height into your workstation.   Taking care of your feet will make your workday more bearable and when you leave work you can go on with your day without being slowed down by foot pain. Remember that Smou Inoles are designed to help you.