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Nurses, teachers, cashiers, construction workers, retail workers, waiters, waitresses, and anyone else whose job requires standing often get sore feet from standing on concrete all day.
Most people go to any length to soothe the ache that comes with standing all day long.
Being on your feet on a concrete floor for a long period can cause many health-related issues, particularly if you usually assume a posture that is not friendly to your body.
It becomes worse if your shoes don’t provide you with the right level of support. Here are some effects that can come from standing on concrete all day.
Effects of Standing on Concrete
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis is a condition that leads to pain at the point where your heel bone connects with the arch.
Women who wear high heels throughout the day or people who stand on concrete for long periods often experience this condition.
In order to treat this condition, you need to do a bit of stretching, use a heel pad or press some ice onto your heel.
Other solutions that can help involve getting some type of arch compression sleeves or using a spiky ball.
Using this involves rolling your foot up and down on the ball while applying light to medium pressure. Individuals can do this in a standing or sitting position.
However, if the problem worsens, a visit to the doctor should be your next course of action.
Bunion
People with this condition experience a lot of pain because the joint on the big toe is skewed out of line. As a result, this part of your foot becomes inflamed and painful.
Many people experience shorting pain in this area which causes a lot of discomfort.
If you find yourself standing on concrete for a long periods of time each day, chances are you might develop a bunion.
Temporary relief can be found by using a prosthetic like Yogatoes. But if you don't find any relief consult your doctor because this condition sometimes requires surgery.
Achilles Tendinitis
Usually, this occurs from overuse of the band of tissue that connects the lower calf muscle to your heel bone.
It results from standing for too long in the same position without stretching your legs and feet.
Consequently, you are likely to feel pain in the area around your heel. In other cases, you may develop lower calf pain.
Unlike bunions, this condition usually goes away once you learn to rest your feet. Stretching can also help using a device like a foot rocker.
However, if the pain becomes persists, it is best to consult your doctor.
Lumbar Strain
Lumbar strain is a kind of injury that occurs in the ligaments, tendons and/or the muscles of the lower back region.
If you are frequently forced into situations where you're standing for a long period of time and you begin to experience lower back pain, chances are you are suffering from lumbar strain.
Subsequently, this condition results when there is too much pressure on ligaments and tendons surrounding the spine.
If it’s a mild case, stretching after a long day of standing can help to ease the pain.
Neuroma
This condition is characterized by pain at the ball of the feet. Other symptoms include numbness, tingling, as well as pain between the toes of your feet.
There are various ways of treating this condition; however, the extent of treatment depends on the severity of symptoms.
Thus, the best thing to do is to visit a podiatrist as soon as you begin experiencing symptoms.
Shin Splints
Standing on concrete for long periods of time is taxing to the shin. As a result, you are likely to develop inflammation and pain along the inner edge of the shin bone.
In addition, shin splints can cause your muscles and feet to feel stiff.
Thankfully, treatment with anti-inflammatory medications can provide significant relief.
Another great option is to wear calf compression sleeves that increase circulation and also reduce inflammation.
Other treatments include icing your shins for 20-30 minutes and wearing insoles or orthotics in your shoes.
Stress Fracture
Another side effect of standing on concrete for long periods of time is a stress fracture.
When your feet are in contact with a hard surface, the stress is transferred to your bones, instead of the muscles.
This can be worse for women because they tend to have smaller, lighter bones which increase their risk of having bone densities issues like osteoporosis.
Those who suffer from this are not equipped to handle this kind of stress effectively.
To alleviate the stress associated with this condition, you need foods rich in calcium.
In addition, you should avoid being on your feet on a concrete surface if possible or at least shorten the duration until your stress fraction has healed.
Foot Pain
Yet another problem with standing on concrete for long periods of time is foot pain.
As a result of being in contact with a hard surface, your feet tire out, become weary or feel very stiff in some cases.
To ease stress, you should consider wearing comfortable shoes with a soft lining and insole.
Ideally take breaks and rest your feet if circumstances allow. Also try doing simple stretches like a foot roll or towel lifts to ease tight tendons.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a common condition in people who stand on their feet all day. The areas that are mostly affected include your bones and muscles.
Muscles kept in constant flexion quickly become exhausted resulting in swelling and pain that radiates up into the leg bones.
This is the reason you feel tired, stiff, and sore after standing on concrete for long periods of time.
Knee Pain
Pain around the knees may also result from standing all day.
Muscles work to hold you upright and without rest the knee joint can become temporarily stuck.
Stiffness in your knees or pain when squatting are signs to look out for.
Over time this will damage the knee and in extreme cases involve the development of osteoarthritis.
Just another reason to avoid standing on concrete for long periods of time.
Back pain
Just like walking for many miles, standing for a considerable part of your day can cause severe back pain.
This occurs because of increased pressure on the spine which leads to muscle spasms.
If you can’t avoid it, ensure you take regular breaks to ease pressure on your feet and back. Also, taking off your shoes helps to relax your nerves.
Once you get home, do some simple stretches and apply a heating pad to the effective area.
Or better yet, take a hot bath with Epsom salt for some soothing relief.
Getting regular massages can be helpful too.
Tips for Standing on Concrete for a Long Time
If you can’t avoid standing on concrete for a long time, here are a few tips to help you stay stress-free.
Comfortable Footwear
Find well-fitting shoes with a soft inner lining to protect the sole of your foot.
The best kind of shoes are those worn by athletes. That way, you won’t feel pain because your feet have a well-padded surface to rest on.
Stretching
If your occupation requires you to stand for the majority of the day, you will have to find a way to shift positions from time to time.
A simpler way to help your body relax is by doing stretching movements.
Sit somewhere, take a deep breath, and then stretch your feet in front while flexing and then pointing your toes.
Remain sitting and raise your arms over your head while bending side from by side at your waist.
After that stretch, shrug your shoulders forward while pulling in your stomach. Then alternate with lifting your shoulders up and arching your back.
Practicing yoga is also a great way to counteract the effects of standing on concrete all day.
Rest
It is not ideal to continue standing when you feel tired.
The effects we have discussed above tend to show up when muscles become fatigued and are not able to support our body properly.
Pain in the lower back, calf muscle, or feet is usually a warning sign telling you that your body has had enough for a day.
Final Verdict
Standing for many hours on concrete or other hard surfaces is much more damaging than sitting or walking.
For that reason, you need to find the most comfortable shoes to minimize stresses on your feet.
Take breaks as often as possible and try to do light stretching throughout the day.
Add some compression items, custom insoles, and use heat therapy to reduce the stain for standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time.
Alternatively, if your work place permits it, you could try rubber anti-fatigue mats.
