Common Foot Problems In The Workplace

Most of us work jobs where our feet are abused. For example, nurses on their feet all day, office workers who get up and down all day, or even those in retail — standing for most of the day. Because we don't pay attention to our feet, they often suffer. The demands of your job may include long periods of standing, walking, jumping, and lifting. Your feet may be absorbing up to three times your weight each day while you are hard at work. Feet are the foundation of the body, so we should not take them for granted.

When you're working in a hazardous environment, your feet take the brunt of all of the dangerous conditions. Extreme heat, slippery floors, and wet conditions can lead to foot problems. Foot problems mean more time off work and can be potentially dangerous, even leading to amputation!

Severe foot and lower limb injuries are a common cause of work absences, missed days, and lost wages. Left unmanaged, the issues can lead to long-term ramifications such as arthritis and muscle degeneration.

Podiatrists can help workers with workplace foot injuries. By working with injured employees (who often get the initial work injury off-site), podiatrists can diagnose the cause of their specific injuries and offer personalised treatment plans to help them quickly return to work. Effective treatment such as prescription orthotics and posture correction can make a big difference in people's work lives.

What Are The Most Common Work-related Foot Problems?

You don't need to be a podiatrist to know that working on your feet all day can lead to concerning foot problems — including stress fractures, sprains, strains, corns, and ingrown toenails. And it doesn't help if you're wearing the wrong shoes for the job.

Arch pain or pain in the ball of the foot or heel may be caused by muscle strain. This is apparent in poor foot posture and can be solved by wearing more appropriate footwear and getting specially-made insoles. For all foot ailments, get help including for sore feet if the problem is consistent and affects your day to day life.

What Are The Risk Factors Of These Injuries?

Standing or Walking For Excessive Periods of Time

Work on your feet for long enough, and you're bound to get an overuse injury. After 4 hours of standing, pressure forces your weight into the balls of your feet. Without shoes with a solid arch support, the pressure can lead to lower back or knee pain — or worse. So when it comes to your work day, look for shoes with built-in arch support for the best long term comfort. A study shows that workers who wore such shoes had significantly fewer knee, ankle and foot problems. It is also safer to wear sturdy shoes while walking on slippery surfaces, because they provide better traction and stability during sudden movements.

Hard Surfaces

When you wear hard-soled shoes, your entire body feels the stress. If you're walking on concrete all day, you may suffer from leg and foot pain when you get home. Cushioned soles and orthotics are used to add shock absorption to your shoes. This helps to reduce pain and fatigue in your feet, legs, lower back, hips and knees.

Unsupportive Footwear

It should be obvious, but we can't stress this enough: shoes that are uncomfortable or poorly made can lead to injury. If they're too tight, they can cut off circulation and cause discomfort. Shoes that are too big or too loose are even worse — they make it harder to perform high-intensity exercises without slipping.

Wearing high heels regularly can actually change your stride. In a high heel, the toes point down and scuff into the ground with each step. This continuous impact is what causes the muscles in your calves to shorten. This is often why people who wear heels often feel muscle pain in their calves when they stop wearing them — it takes time for their calves to lengthen again.

High heels can cause corns, calluses, bunions, hammertoes, nerve and ligament damage.

All of these irritations can lead to more serious issues. If you start walking in a certain way because of an injury, it won't be long before you're walking in an unnatural pattern — and that isn't good for your knees, hips, or spine.

Reducing Risks

Common injuries among workers include: Achilles tendonitis, stress fractures through constant force applied to the feet, arch pain, and heel pain. These problems can be avoided by:

Wearing Correct & Supportive Footwear

Footwear is all about individual preferences. One shoe might be suitable for one person but completely the opposite for someone else. A good workplace should help employees find the most comfortable shoes for them from a range of options to prevent feet from getting cold, wet or suffering any further discomfort.

You should always wear comfortable safety shoes or boots in the workplace to protect against environmental risks. Ensure that your safety footwear is fitted correctly and that you take your foot measurements. Your feet should be measured in length, width, and depth to find the best shoe for you.

Shoes that fit comfortably and have good arch support will reduce discomfort and prevent injuries. Laces, straps, or buckles should be used to keep shoes on the feet. Go for shoes with a back. If the shoe has no back, your toes will have to claw for a hold. This can be tough on your feet and leg muscles.

Changing position regularly

Keep your muscles mobile and give pressure points a rest. Doing so will not only keep you from getting stiff, but also maintain a healthy life. A crucial step to staying strong is to do at least some movement every few minutes. This is just as important as sitting down and having a rest at regular intervals. To make sure that one muscle group is not getting more strain than the other, make sure that you change positions frequently.

Take care of your feet at home

Good foot hygiene is an essential part of preventing foot problems. Washing your feet every night with a non-irritating soap, trimming your toenails regularly, and inspecting your feet for corns, calluses, or cuts can help prevent injury.

What can a podiatrist do for you?

Podiatrists are qualified, licensed health professionals that specialise in pediatrics and surgery of the foot. They work with a wide range of patients and conditions ranging from surgery on broken bones to fungus treatments. 

While having an occupational health and safety plan can reduce risk of injury to employees, it is not always enough. Employers should invest in professional care for their employees as well. Podiatric treatment for occupational health can include:

Biomechanical assessments

We conduct assessments to see how your posture and lower limbs are functioning. We can pinpoint any biomechanics that may contribute to pain and discomfort. Then, we create a personalised treatment plan just for you.

Managing existing injuries

When your feet ache, we can provide relief. We offer treatments that will provide more support and reduce any discomfort. Some injuries will benefit from sports massage therapy and corrective exercise regimens.

Finding appropriate footwear

Workplace-appropriate footwear is essential, and for many jobs, safety or protective shoes are mandated for a reason. It's important to stay comfy and safe, so we can provide expert advice to ensure that you have the perfect shoes for your work.

Fitting custom orthotics

If you're dealing with pain in your feet and/or lower limbs, orthotic inserts may be right for you. These custom-made pieces of durable foam can be fitted to our shoes to provide extra support and relief. They're also available for high heels, which wear down the feet and cause pain. Orthotic inserts can be fitted by our podiatrists to help you walk with less pain and more stability.