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FOOT HEALTH CARE AT WORK

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Foot care is often overlooked when we consider health & safety in the workplace. It is seen as trivial and unimportant compared to other safety issues. This is wrong considering how important our feet are to us. Our feet are one the most utilised parts of the human body. They are constantly under stress as we go about our normal working lives.

Our feet work for us the whole day, whether we stand, run, or walk, and in the process they become the most affected part of our anatomy.

Many things affect the condition of our feet: activity level, occupation type, other health conditions, and perhaps most importantly, our shoes.

Feet are often neglected, as people are unaware of the damage that can be caused to them in day-to-day life.

Being in a working environment where you are on your feet all day is a major cause of foot problems, as the feet have little time to recuperate before the next working day commences.

WORKER

People may suffer from pain in their back, legs and knees but may not associate the pain with problems concerning their feet. Untreated, such problems can lead to more long-term conditions such as chronic back pain and ligament deformity.

“Every year 22,000 people in the UK miss work for more than three days owing to foot injuries in the workplace”

British Footwear Association

Why do workers need orthotic inserts?

  1. Several studies show a statistically significant improvement in reducing back pain with orthotic inserts.

  2. Inserts offer a preventative approach to reducing general fatigue, poor posture and foot pain.

  3. Motion control at the feet can improve standing posture.

  4. Supporting the feet reduces the tendency for the body to slouch forward.

  5. The right amount of cushioning inside the shoe reduces the need for floor mats.

  6. Costs are lower for the inserts than for floor mats and other anti-fatigue solutions.

  7. Inserts from foothealthcare.com do not require specialist fitting as they are designed to be size specific to match shoe sizes.

  8. Most employees spend the majority of their shift standing.

  9. Most employees will wear cheap, poor fitting shoes that lack support for standing.

  10. Complaints of back and foot pain combined with hard work surfaces lead to high employee turnover, workers compensation claims and absenteeism

 
RELATED ARTICLES

Article: Postal workers respond positively to shoe inserts

Increasing complaints of pain at the feet, knees, and back reflect a desperate need to reduce ground reaction forces while standing and walking. Cushion pads at stationary workstations are an attempt at a solution but do not address a mobile work setting. Employees' complaints of pain and discomfort could be related to the onset or progression of such common pathologies related to the feet, knees, and back as articular cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis.

As our workforce begins to advance in age, we can presume that they will be more likely to experience these maladies. As a result, the general workforce would certainly benefit from an effective cushion interface to prevent or delay exacerbation of these symptoms.  MORE MORE

Boots for Working
Worker Fatigue
Insoles vs Matting
Spiky Anti-slip Footwear
Boots for working
Products for Workers


RELATED WEBSITES
Health & Safety Executive
IOSH
FOOT HEALTH CARE IN THE WORK PLACE
Download a copy of our free Foot Healthcare in the Workplace guide (PDF)

Typical work related foot problems:

Foot  condition
Foot care advice
Solution
Foot blisters

A blister is a bubble of fluid under the outer layer of skin. The fluid may be clear or filled with blood or pus. There are many possible causes of blisters including a burn, disease, an allergic reaction, or from your skin rubbing against something.

MORE

   
Make sure your shoes are well fitting
Try wearing 2 pairs of socks - this helps prevent the foot rubbing up against the shoe
Use an anti-blister cream before taking part in vigorous walks or runs

For plantar blisters, use a cushioning insole or forefoot cushioning insert

 

PORON ACTIVE INSOLES
Poron Active Insoles

GEHWOL ANTIBLISTER FOOT CREAM
Gehwol Anti-blister

SCHOLL BLISTER PLASTERS

Scholl Blister Plasters

Over Pronation

Pes planus otherwise termed as flat feet is a biomechanical problem, where the arch of the foot appears flattened. This causes the foot to roll inwards in order to gain contact with the floor and support the weight of the body.

MORE

   
Is treated with orthotics (special insoles) to provide biomechanical support
If there is little room in the shoe, try using a valgus pad
Ensure you see a doctor/podiatrist if the condition/pain does not improve
 

INTERPOD SLIMTECH ORTHOTICS
Slimtech Orthotics

VALGUS PADS
Valgus Pads

SCHOLL ADJUSTABLE GEL ARCH SUPPORTS

Scholl Adjustable Gel Arch Supports

Sweaty Feet

Feet contain 250,000 sweat glands that constantly secrete moisture to keep feet moist, supple and healthy. However many feet are prone to excessive sweating, which can lead to irritable feet.

MORE

   
Keep feet clean and dry
Wear breathable cotton or woolen socks.
Try wearing spacious leather shoes
Try using a cream or spray with deodorising properties
 

IMPERIAL FOOT DEO SPRAY

Foot Deo Spray (Imperial Feet)

SCHOLL ODOUR CONTROL INSOLES

Scholl Odour Control Insoles

Heel Pain

Heel Pain Syndrome is caused by repetitive pressure placed on the heel of the foot when walking, which causes soreness of the heel. Three types of heel pain include Bursitis, Plantar Fasciitis and General Heel Pain Syndrome.

MORE

   
Cold presses or ice packs
Anti-inflammatory tablets
Cushioning heel pads
Massaging the foot / muscle stimulation
Stretching exercises
Insoles or orthotics

 

AIRPLUS GEL HEEL CUPS

Airplus Gel Heel Cups

SPORT AND WORK INSOLE

Sport & Work Insole

SCHOLL HEEL CUSHIONS

Scholl Heel Cushions

Shin Splints

Shin splints can cause pain in the front lower leg due to minor tearing of the anterior muscle (muscle between mid-foot and knee) from the shin bone. There are two types of shin splints: Anterior Shin Splints, located in the tibia (front portion of shin) and posterior Shin Splints, located on the medial (inside) part of the tibia

MORE

   
Gentle stretching of the posterior leg muscles before and after exercise
Apply ice after exercise to reduce swelling
Rest the leg as much as possible
When exercising avoid running uphill or on hard surfaces
 

AIRPLUS GEL HEEL CUPS
Airplus Gel Insoles

Aching Feet

Can be caused by long periods of standing on hard flooring with inadequate shoes with hard foot beds.

   
Use cushioning insoles such as Prothotics Professional
Massaging the foot / muscle stimulation
Make sure your shoes are well fitting
 

PROTHOTICS PROFESSIONAL INSOLE

Prothotics Professional Insole

Corns & Calluses

Corns and calluses develop when normal skin activity is over-stimulated resulting in a thickening layer of skin. This over-stimulation can result from congenital, hormonal, occupational & infective factors

MORE

   
Wear wide toed, low-heeled shoes
Use a pumice stone
See Podiatrist/Chiropodist for advice
Use padding for the ball of the foot
Moisturise the foot daily
 

SCHOLL COMPLETE CORN TREATMENT KIT

Scholl Complete Corn Treatment Kit

SCHOLL MEDICATED CORN AND CALLUS REMOVAL LIQUID

Scholl Medicated Corn & Callus Removal Liquid

Strains & Sprains

Ankle sprains (stretching/ tearing of ankle ligaments) are one of the most common types of ankle injuries. Ankle sprains occur when the foot is forced into an unnatural position, usually when encountering an uneven surface, however it can be due to the genetic makeup of the individual's foot.

MORE

   
Prevent sprains by wearing good practical shoes and anti-slip devices on slippery surfaces, e.g. Spikys for icy conditions.
Exercise helps to strengthen muscles. Do some research on the best exercises for the lower leg.
Plenty of rest for the foot.
Try and elevate the foot as much as possible.
Compression to restrict range of motion i.e. bandages, splints etc.
 

SPIKY ANTI SLIP DEVICE

Spiky



SPIKY ANTI SLIP DEVICE

Spiky Plus

*If you are interested in buying any of our products in large quantities (i.e. 20 plus), please call us on 0151 280 4555 to discuss your requirements

 



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