One of the many symptoms triggered by prolonged periods of standing is Plantar fasciitis. The pain can be felt at the bottom of your foot near the heel. Plantar fasciitis is commonly known to some as the heel spur syndrome. While standing for a long time, the feet are in direct contact with the hard surfaces such as concrete and tiles and this reaction directly produces stress and weight to the heel bones, causing it to show symptoms of stabbing pain.
One of the directors of the foot care clinic at the University of Washington Medical Center's Bone and Joint Center shares her insights on plantar fasciitis. According to Ivory Larry, plantar fasciitis is similar to the other "overuse injuries," such as shin splints and carpal tunnel syndrome.
The plantar fascia is common in older people and people who suffer from overweight because their body weight puts extra stress on their feet; it is also common for people whose job requires standing most of the time such as cashiers, industrial workers, or service crew.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS IN TOO MUCH STANDING?
Standing have great benefits to sedentary workers, such as relief from lower back pain, stiff neck, weight loss, an increase in productivity, and focus. But when done continuously it can be tiring. Standing for a whole day’s work is hard on the feet, heels, legs muscles, and the entire body.
Dan MacLeod, director of ergonomics at Clayton Environmental Consultants, says that “humans do not tolerate well standing on a hard surface, it's fatiguing and hard on the feet and spinal column."
Issues of health problems arise with too much standing such as having muscles constricted, which leads to a decrease in blood flow. This will hurt the muscles and joints as well as it would cause blood to stagnate resulting in varicose veins. Also, long-term standing causes flattening of the foot which is painful and can lead to plantar fasciitis and other serious health problems.
HOW CAN ANTI-FATIGUE MAT LESSEN THE PAIN OF STANDING?
According to James M. Kendrick, the editor of Workplace Ergonomics News and Environmental Health and Safety News, ‘anti-fatigue mats are engineered to make the body naturally and imperceptibly sway, which encourages subtle movement by calf and leg muscles. This promotes blood flow and keeps the blood from stagnating in the veins, which causes workers to feel fatigued.’
If you are planning to work using a sit-stand workstation and spending more than a few hours at a standing desk, you should get the anti-fatigue comfort floor mat. It provides the best support, won’t curl up at the edges, is easy to clean, is environmentally friendly, and has a 10-year warranty.
It is also the ideal size of 18”x30” for your office space, reduces fatigue from standing, and is perfect for those transitioning to a standing desk. It is made of a solid, high-density ergo-foam core which provides long-lasting support. It is best paired with a standing desk.
