Heel pain is a common problem in people that have to stand for long hours. It can be disconcerting and reduce efficiency at work. While heel pain may be caused by a variety of things, heel pain may also occur because people stand for long periods.
When standing, the feet and leg muscles continue to generate tension to keep you balanced. Over time, this can cause soreness in your muscles. Also, standing reduces circulation and oxygen supply to the feet, further increasing pain. Again, a condition like flat feet can worsen heel pain.
What to Do About Heel Pain When Standing
Heel pain while standing may be inevitable because of work or lifestyle. It is important to know why your heels hurt and what you will need to do to manage the pain. Some of the things that you can do to manage heel pain include:
- Rest
Get off your feet whenever possible, relax and elevate your feet. If the pain persists, you can either use NSAIDs, or ice to relieve the pain and control inflammation. - Massage
To aid relaxation of lower limb muscles and relieve pain off your feet. - Exercises
Exercises for heel pain should include stretching and strengthening techniques. Stretching before and after periods of long-standing reduces the level of pain from standing. Likewise, strengthening the muscles builds them up so they can support more tension. Finally, endurance exercises will help prevent easy muscle fatigue. - Use of custom orthotics
These provide additional cushioning and comfort for the feet, and they relieve pressure and tension. - Wear the right footwear
Avoid wearing tight-fitting shoes with limited toe space.
Should You See a Doctor for Heel Pain?
The recovery from heel pain depends on the severity and the promptness of intervention. Generally, relieving heel pain should resolve with rest and conservative treatment. However, if these methods do not relieve your heel pain, please visit a doctor, so that they can assess your condition. The doctor will diagnose the cause of the pain and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.