Occupational injuries like heel pain are as common as they are preventable. Your job may require you to stand for long periods of time, or you may potentially work around hazardous areas and materials, which increase the risk of damage to your feet. However, if provided the right tools and training, this risk can be drastically decreased, and worrying about your feet will be a thing of the past.
While the foot and ankle specialists at Sunshein Podiatry can provide safety measures for your feet, your employer is responsible for providing the proper training. It's your right, and you should make sure you receive it. Here's how we educate our patients about how to prevent occupational heel pain and protect their livelihood—and their long-term health.
Why Might Your Job Cause Heel Pain?
The complex anatomy of our feet allows us to sustain up to four times our body weight while providing us with balance as we stand. This foundation is also strong enough to propel our bodies forward as we climb ladders, walk back and forth across concrete floors, and jump in and out of delivery vehicles. In particular, our heels bear most of these stressors as they are usually the first part of our feet to come into contact with ever–varying surfaces. And, as our heels continuously absorb these sudden shocks of impact, pain occurs.
There are also other risk factors you should take into account:
- Bearing weight for long periods. This is especially true with hard flooring or surfaces.
- Age. The older we are, the more prone we are to experiencing discomfort.
- Obesity. If body mass is higher than average, then feet and ankles are also under higher–than–average pressure, which can lead to heel pain.
- Ill-fitting footwear. Wearing shoes that provide poor shock absorption and support—especially during high-impact activities—is actually one of the main causes for heel pain.
What's the Best Footwear for You?
You should always opt for supportive shoes, keeping in mind the specific industry requirements that apply to your job:
- Is your work environment unusually hot or cold?
- Is your work environment often wet or slippery?
- Is the ground/surface of your work environment uneven or cluttered with small objects that you inevitably tread upon?
- Is the ground/surface of your work environment unusually soft?
- Does your work environment consist mainly of hard surfaces, such as concrete, asphalt, wood floors, concrete, and so on?
In some cases, companies will provide their employees with the appropriate footwear according to their assigned roles based on the company’s hazard prevention programs and policies. However, custom orthotics can also be used to complement your work gear and optimize relief from the strains caused by the daily forces exerted on your feet, especially your heels. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society recommends using custom orthotics in conjunction with simple stretching regimens to significantly reduce heel discomfort and pain.
Need Help? Our Centerville Podiatrists Are Here for You!
Of course, we understand that even when taking all the precautionary measures available, heel discomfort caused by work exertion can still happen. If you're struggling with this, the medical professionals at Sunshein Podiatry have the best tools to tackle this problem. We've created more than just another podiatry practice. We've built a place where your story matters as much as your symptoms. Where your "why" drives everything we do.