Importance
of Comfort Shoes
Calluses, ingrown toenails, tired feet. Standing on
your feet all day often leads to a whole range of
foot problems. Even if you're on your feet for a couple
of hours a day, foot comfort is often an overlooked
aspect in getting through the day. When your feet
hurt, you hurt all over.
With that
being said, it is no wonder why your choice of work
shoes should be an important decision. Foot pain due
to lack of a good quality shoe made for long periods
of standing is preventable! Foot troubles are a trivial
matter, and are very common among doctors, nurses,
chefs, shopping attendents, and other professionals
who spend a large portion of the day on their feet.
Fatigue from poorly designed shoes can set up the
workers for possible injures affecting the muscles
and joints. A tired worker suffering from pain due
to inadequate shoes will more likely act unsafely
and an accident of any kind may occur.
Causes
of Foot Problems Certian foot problems are so common that they can
occur in any working environemtt under any type of condition.
These problems can include severly aching feet, blisters,
calluses, corns, rheumatism, arthritis, malformations
of toes, fallen arches (flat feet), bunsions and sprains.
These problems distract employees and lower productivity,
not to mention the discomfort of dealing with sore feet.
Long periods of standing on hard flooring with insuffiently
comfortable work shoes or poorly fitted foot wear can
have a major negative impact on the body. High heels,
pointed shoes, shoes lacking in arch support, or shoes
oversized/undersized can all be culprits of these probelms.
Although there are no comprehensive statistics showing
the percentage of workers being affected foot problems,
some surveys suggest that up to two-thrids of employees
suffer foot problems.
Working
Positions and Foot Problems
Our feet are designed for mobilitied, so it is no wonder
why standing upright for long periods can be extrememly
tiring. When a worker stands for hours on end, day after
day, not only will they experience aching feet but eventually
they cause permanet damage in the joints of the bones
in their feet causing them to be misaligned (or flat
feet). Similarly, continued abuse of ones feet can later
lead to rheumatism and arthritis.
Poorly
fitting shoes and shoes needing repair (i.e. new soles,
arch support) contrbutes to a large part of foot discomfort.
Ironically enough, pointed toes and high heels are
particularly inappropriate for working footwear but
are a popular choice for casual to formal attire.
Combine these uncomfortable shoes with prolonged standing,
hard flooring and you have a major foot problem. Not
understanding the factors that cuase foot problems
can play a role in the onset of foot problems.
Workplace
Hazards There is no working environemtn that is immune to
foot injury. Obviously, the hazards differ according
to the types of tasks the worker does. The best method
in reducing the chance of foot problems is to choose
a comfortable work shoe. Here at WorkShoesBeach.com,
we understand that foot problems can often be overlooked
until there is substantial damage from standing to long,
so we have taken the time to compile this information
for you along with our select line of high quality work
shoes designed to keep you comfortable on your feet
all day long. No matter how many hours a day you are
on your feet, choosing the right shoes will keep your
body physically content. Please be sure to read out
"Foot & Body Benefits" section if you
are wondering about the advantages of choosing the appropriate
work shoe.
Job
Design and Foot Safety Avoiding fixed standing positions is an important
aspect of keeping your feet and body happy. It is extrememly
important to vary tasks which change body positions
periodically tha tuse different muscles. Jobs that allow
for position rotation and even team work can lead to
an easier day on your feet. Also, be sure to take rest
frequent short breaks.
Flooring The harder the floor, the greater the discomfort.
Materials that allow for some type of flexibility, including
wood, cork, carpeting or rubber will always be more
king to your feet. Obviously, in many working situations,
finding flexiable flooring is not possible, but you
can disregard these hard surfaces by choosing footwear
that is constructed with thick, insulating soles and
short-absorbing insoles to prevent any possible discomfort.
Anti-fatigue matting can also be useful if you place
one in the spot if you are forced to be in a fixed location.
Footwear The single most important choice when trying to
prevent or counteract tired, sore, aching feet is to
make a good decision when choosing your footwear, and
finding a pair that is designed for your overall body
well-being. Footwear that can cause or aggravate foot
problems will not be found here at WorkShoeBeach.com
- in fact, our line of footwear is not only fashoinable
but comfortable and supportive.
Choosing
Footwear for Work
When
considering a pair of shoes to purchase, make sure
that:
The
inner side of the shoe is straight from
the heel to the end of the big toe.
The
shoe grips the heel firmly.
The
forepart allows freedom of movement
for the toes.
The
shoe has a fastening across the instep
to prevent the foot from slipping when
walking.
The
shoe has a low, wide-based heel. Flat
shoes are recommended.
Also
keep the following in mind when purchasing shoes for
work:
Do
not expect that footwear which is too
tight will stretch with wear.
Buy
shoes to fit the bigger foot.
Buy
shoes late in the afternoon—feet
swell throughout the day, are likely
to be at their largest later in the
day.
Consider
using shock-absorbing insoles where
the job requires walking or standing
on hard floors.
When
selecting footwear, one should remember
that tight socks or stockings can cramp
the toes as much as poorly-fitted shoes.
Wrinkled socks, or socks that are too
large or too small, can cause blisters.
Consider wearing white woollen or cotton
socks with work shoes—the dyes
in coloured socks cause skin allergies
in some people.
