As a profession dedicated to protecting and helping people, you often forget to help yourself. Being on the front line during this time, there will be an increase in workload and stress on your feet. You are possibly spending more hours standing than you normally would; and this sudden increase in activity and load can often cause pain. This blog is to help you keep you on your feet as sore feet don’t stop when you’re busy!
Foot pain, such as in your heel or arch can be very common with longer periods of standing. Biomechanics, load, footwear and weak intrinsic foot muscles are all contributing factors. Strapping tape, orthotic therapy and strengthening exercises like the ones below may be helpful and keep the pain at bay. If your knees are getting sore this may also be indicative of incorrect footwear or weakness in the foot and leg due to the increased workloads. If the pain does not resolve please do get in touch as we have video conferencing and phone appointments available.
Footwear is an essential aspect to consider. Safety boots are not always the most comfortable- I am sure you would rather be wearing trainers which offer more cushioning. While the wearing of your safety boots at work is non-negotiable, what you wear outside of work can influence the way your feet feel throughout the workday. A supportive shoe with a dual density foam sole will offer cushioning and we also recommend flexibility in the toe area, no bending or twisting in the middle of the shoe and about a 1 cm lift at the heel. Most importantly, make sure your shoes fit well and are comfortable.
Callus and corns are areas of hard skin that form on the feet and toes due to areas of increased high pressure or friction. In face-to-face appointments it is usually a quick, easy and pain free procedure for a podiatrist to remove your callus or corns, but at this time while social distancing is so important there are a few things you can do at home to ease the discomfort. You can use a foot file or pumice stone lightly on dry skin a couple of times a week, we recommend using a foot cream or moisturiser with a high urea content daily to assist the removal of the hard skin and help prevent it building up again.
This last point may seem obvious, but when we’re busy it is often overlooked. Don’t forget to trim and file your toenails. Excessively long nails can increase pressure within your shoes causing ingrowing toenails. Long toenails can become painful and uncomfortable if they cut into the toes on either side, particularly if the neighbouring toes are longer.
Here are some more detailed self-care tips on nails, corns and callus from our Resonance Podiatrist Bronwyn.
Make sure that when you get home – take off your shoes, put your feet and give your feet some TLC – you deserve it.
Thank you for your ever-appreciated work, Police!
Resonance are here for you every step of the way
By Resonance Podiatrists Caron Orelowitz and Nadia Sorenson
www.respod.co.nz
0800 473 776
