Are you always on your feet? Are you forced to wear a particular style of shoe for work? Are you starting to feel the effects on your feet? Here we discuss how your job and lifestyle can negatively affect your feet.
Long Hours On Feet
Professions such as doctors, nurses, factory workers and restaurant staff spend the majority of their working hours on their feet in a fast paced environment. Aching feet are very common among this group of people due to muscle fatigue. It is important to remember that our feet are supporting our full body weight so it is no wonder they can become fatigued.
Plantar fasciitis (pain at the heel and into the arch of the foot) can occur, especially when the individual wears poor footwear e.g. a nurse wearing a non-supportive, fabric shoe. Wearing a well-structured, thick soled shoe with insoles can support and cushion the feet, reducing the likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis and other foot conditions.
Your podiatrist can assess your footwear and, if needed, prescribe insoles.
High Heels
We know that our bodies support our weight when standing, imagine almost all of that weight on the ball of your foot. That’s what happens when you wear high heels. This can cause conditions such as metatarsalgia (pain across the ball of the foot) or Morton’s neuroma (like walking on a pebble). Both of these are caused by excessive pressure. Callus (hard skin) and corns (circular area of callus with a painful center) are likely to develop due to the extra pressure and the restricted space in the shoe.
Some jobs such as lawyers or bankers may have to wear high heels for their jobs. In these cases, it is recommended to look out for the best properties in a high heel e.g. wearing a wider and round toed design instead of pointed and narrow, reducing the heel height, having a thicker sole for more shock absorption. Gel pads may help reduce some pressure at the ball of the foot, but they can take up more space in the shoe, which could cause a corn on the toe if the shoe lacks depth and space.
Wellingtons And Boots
Farmers and builders have to wear wellingtons and steel toe cap boots, which create dark and sometimes wet environments where bacteria and fungi can thrive. As a result, athlete’s foot (fungal skin), fungal nails, hyperhidrosis (sweaty feet) and pitted keratolysis (bacterial skin infection) typically occur.
Chilblains can develop if wearing wellingtons in cold, wet conditions, usually during the winter months. It is best to warm feet gradually over time and avoid radiators and open fires as these can make the chilblains worse and cause ulcers (sores). Thicker socks and insulated wellingtons can help prevent these as well as throwing away footwear that leak.
A podiatrist can help with all of these conditions, by diagnosing the issue and providing a treatment plan. They may also prescribe insoles, which provide support and cushioning to make your footwear more comfortable.
Sandals And Flip Flops
Some people choose to wear flip flops or sandals for their day to day activities. While some sandals can offer support and even fit an orthotic insole, others including flip flops, are quite flimsy and can cause foot pain such as plantar fasciitis as mentioned above.
Flip flops and slip on sandals don’t have a strap to secure itself to the ankle, forcing the toes to claw and grip with every step to avoid tripping up. This puts too much stress on the sole of the feet and can cause plantar fasciitis. This is a condition that can become chronic if the cause of the issue is not dealt with e.g. continuing to wear sandals that caused the condition to develop.
Long walks wearing flip flops or non-supportive sandals are not recommended as they can cause other conditions such as Achilles tendonitis or ankle sprains as they allow uncontrolled movement in the feet.
Flip flops may serve a purpose (trying to avoid getting verrucae in communal areas where normal footwear isn’t an option e.g. work or gym showers) but it is best to limit your time wearing these, perhaps just to places such as swimming pools.
Runners
As the summer is here, we are experiencing warmer temperatures. That, coupled with sweating from exercise alone can cause excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis. This can lead to the development of pitted keratolysis, as mentioned above, which is a bacterial skin infection. It can cause smelly feet and embarrassment for the person.
Blisters are another common occurrence among runners, the likelihood heightened with hyperhidrosis. Sports socks or bamboo socks are good for wicking sweat away from the skin. Over the counter anti-perspirants can help manage the sweating, while in some cases a prescription may be needed - your podiatrist can advise you on the best approach.
During lockdown, many individuals returned to running and may have experienced muscle spasms and strains or sprains, which Spectrum Health podiatrists and physiotherapists can help manage. We can advise on footwear, provide an exercise programme and potentially prescribe insoles to help prevent or treat injuries.
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