The feet are the part of the body that literally keeps us on our feet and this task seems more than natural to us. Yet all our weight rests on our feet and ankles.
That is why, both in everyday life and in working life, the feet must be comfortable. Unfortunately foot care is something we never think about, indeed we take everything for granted.
Together with Francesco Rosso, graduated in physical education and professional kinesiologist, we are talking about prevention and accident prevention related to the feet.
How to choose the right safety shoe?
First of all, it is important to know that a foot is made up of 26 bones, ligaments and tendons. All elements that can undergo wear, especially if they are not treated well.
There are two main elements to focus on for an optimal choice:
- foot size, i.e. the shoe size
- shape of the foot, if it is normal, hollow or flat.
In all cases, it is important that the shoe has a minimum of heel, about two centimeters, because if the sole were flat, 53% of the body weight would go to the heel and the remaining 47% to the foot.
With the two centimeters of heel, however, the weight of the body is distributed equally between the front and back of the foot. This also happens, for example, for sneakers.
Which safety shoes to choose according to the type of job?
There are really many safety shoes for different types of work. We can, however, distinguish two major macro-areas:
- shoes for those who stand for many hours, still and in the same position, as in the case of a welder
- shoes for those who move a lot, need to flex, stand up and have great motility, for example, a warehouse worker or a craftsman.
These are two completely different types of work.
Safety shoe for static work
The person or worker who spends many hours standing, stationary in the same place, will need a wide-fitting shoe, so that the weight of the body can rest during the hours of work, and which reduces the coefficient of load for every square centimeter of shoe, so as to be able to discharge the weight of the body well.
All this to prevent all the effects that do not manifest themselves immediately, but can present themselves as cramps, muscle contractures, pains in the ankles, knees, shoulders and back. In fact, all these parts of the body are connected and a foot problem can affect the whole body.
Our advice: Giasco Ercolano safety shoe.
It is a made in Italy shoe, designed and loved especially for welders, characterized by:
- nice wide plant
- laces not exposed
- HRO heat resistant sole.
In this way, sudden risks related to specific work are avoided, but also problems due to the taking, day after day, of incorrect positions.
Safety shoe for dynamic work
On the other hand, we find those who grind many kilometers, perhaps inside a warehouse, or who need to go up and down stairs. In short, in general to move a lot.
Let's think about what happens to an electrician who has to spend hours squatting. With an inappropriate type of shoe they could get really hurt.
Our tip: U-Power Point safety shoe.
A dynamic shoe, characterized by:
- soft sole
- use of polyurethane foam technology, which causes the body to bounce off the heel of the shoe and have a minimum of lift and release energy upwards
- not very rigid shape, adaptable to the shape of the foot.
These functions help prevent all the joint problems that we mentioned earlier and that can come out over time.
So what should you do when you have discomfort like plantar fasciitis? Here are some tips to put into practice:
Which problems can an inadequate shoe cause?
The use of a very rigid shoe, not adaptable to the foot, can lead to problems with the ankle, which cannot move
When my ankle isn't working well, the front leg joint doesn't open. This involves the inhibition of the gluteus medius. Having this muscle off is not a good condition.
When my ankle isn't working well, the front leg joint doesn't open. This involves the inhibition of the gluteus medius. Having this muscle off is not a good condition.
Furthermore, one of the most common consequences is plantar fasciitis. Perhaps you have already heard of it, it is an inflammation of the sole of the foot that derives from joint overload or from unsuitable shoes.
The runner, if the shoe is wrong, will immediately suffer from plantar fasciitis, as well as those who do not use suitable safety shoes.
Which solutions can be taken to reduce foot problems?
So what should you do when you have discomfort like plantar fasciitis? Here are some tips to put into practice:
- get a tennis ball or similar. At the end of the work day, when you are comfortable on the sofa in the evening, place the ball under the sole of your foot and slide your foot back and forth on the ground. This exercise relaxes the plantar part and prevents all the problems that can arise such as calf cramps and contractures,
- a simple fresh foot bath in the evening, back home, after having been for hours with the foot closed in a shoe with a sock, costs nothing and brings enormous relief, reducing all pain and contractions,
- foot massage. You can do a self-massage by moving your hands along the sole of the foot, to dissolve the tensions that are created, from the heel to the toes, or contact a professional.
If you want to find out more about massages or other specific interventions in case of problems related to posture, visit the Francesco Grosso - Kinesiology and wellness website or the Facebook and Instagram social pages.