The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that civilian workers as a whole spend around 4.25 hours of their workday standing, which can result in considerable pain if they have flat feet. Individuals working in occupations such as food preparation and serving spend up to 97.6% of their workday on their feet. One survey of workers who stand for long periods found that 69% had colleagues who experience back, leg, or foot pain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that prolonged standing in one’s workplace is linked to a host of health issues, including lower back pain, leg swelling, and fatigue. Sore feet can affect workers as a whole, but those who lack an arch can experience additional symptoms. While flat feet can impact workers in any industry, those in the nursing, retail, warehouse, and teaching sectors can be more affected.
Why Flat Feet Can Hurt More for Those with Standing Jobs
Your arch can be considered your foot’s natural means of shock absorption. It acts as a spring, ensuring your foot doesn’t collapse under load. When you work in a standing position for eight hours or so, however, you increase the pressure on your heel and midfoot, causing problems such as heel pain, midfoot strain, and irritation of the fat pad in your feet. Collapsed arches can also cause the heel to roll inward (pronation), which can lead to ankle instability, shin splints, hip and lower back pain, and posterior tibial tendon overload. Pronation additionally causes the knees to turn inward, leading to knee pain. Individuals who stand a long time can also experience muscular fatigue in the lower legs, as soft tissues overcompensate for the absent arch support. All these issue together lead to a higher rate of workplace injuries such as sprains, plantar fasciitis, and lower-limb tendinopathies.
Is There a Permanent Solution to Flat Feet?
Individuals with no symptoms of flat feet can get by without treatments. Those with mild or moderate symptoms are typically advised to perform physical therapy exercises to stretch and strengthen their feet. Orthotic shoe inserts and other walking supports can also help alleviate symptoms. In cases where pain is interfering with a patient’s quality of life or symptoms are severe, flat foot surgery may be recommended. This approach varies from patient to patient, but it can combine various procedures, including tendon replacement (in which a damaged tendon is removed and replaced), osteotomy (in which the heel bone is cut and reinforced), and fusion (where joints are fused for greater support).
Aids for Mild to Moderate Cases
Physical therapy is just one approach for mild or moderate cases of flat feet. Those affected may also find relief in supportive footwear with structured arch support, a firm midsole, a wide toe box, and heel counter stiffness to boost ankle stability. It is important to visit a foot specialist to receive customized orthotics or to obtain a recommendation for a specific shoe. Orthotics include bespoke, 3D-printed orthotics made for your specific gait pattern, semi-rigid prefabricated orthotics with medial arch support, and heel cups for workers with heel pain. It can also help to make improvements in workplace ergonomics. For instance, employees should alternate between sitting and standing positions when possible, and rotate their tasks to reduce continuous load. They can also perform strengthening and mobility exercises, as advised by their foot specialist or physical therapist.
A large percentage of workers in the U.S. and beyond spend many hours standing. This phenomenon can be particularly painful for those with flat feet, as they are missing the suspension that helps evade pain and injury. If you have this condition, see a foot specialist or surgeon, as exercises, orthotics, or surgery can make a big difference in your quality of life.
