On the market there is a wide choice of safety shoes, and at first sight they look all the same, although there are actually great differences among the various types. In this article my goal is to give you some advice about the best safety shoes for flat feet.
I will try to give you an idea of what problems can be avoided by using the right kind of safety shoes.
I am sure this article will be a big help to you so that you will be able to choose the perfect pair of safety shoes for your problem.
Contents
A seemingly harmless condition
Flat feet, also called fallen arches, is a condition in which the arches become flat, and they touch the ground when you’re standing. Most people suffering from such condition were born that way, but in other cases one can develop such condition for different causes, including age and deformation due to standing too long on hard surfaces while moving very little.
That’s why it is important to carefully choose your footwear if you have flat feet.
At first this condition is generally harmless and painless, and for such reason most people underestimate it. Nevertheless I can assure you that this disease needs to be paid particular attention. Why? Because with time and age pain you will start experiencing pain.
The main symptom of fallen arches is an uneasy feeling in the feet after a day of hard work. It may present as pain in the heels and arches, or you may have swollen ankles. If you often have such symptoms or if in general this condition starts making your work harder, you should see a doctor to decide whether a targeted treatment is necessary.
In spite of that, most problems caused by flat feet can be reduced or eliminated by wearing the appropriate type of safety footwear at work. Not only can you ease or remove the pain, but you can also solve a number of symptoms.
The causes
In a human foot there are 26 bones, held together by 33 joints and over 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments.
The foot is a complexe structur which has a great influence on the way our body moves.
The causes of flat feet are:
- Genetic factors
- Foot or ankle injuries
- arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- Damage, dysfunction or rupture of the tibial posterior tendon
- Tarsal condition, that is a condition which consists in an abnormal fusion of the foot bones which causes the foot to be flat as a side-effect.
In addition to that obese people, people suffering from diabetes and pregnant women have higher chances of developing this condition.
Diagnosis
People with flat feet who don’t feel pain nor see other symptoms normally don’t seek medical advice.
However if any of the following situations occurs, it is highly recommended you see a doctor:
- If the condition appeared only recently
- If you experience pain in the feet, ankles or in the lower limbs
- If the symptoms don’t get better even if you are using the proper kind of safety footwear
- If one or both your feet are gradually becoming flat
Treatment
Normally an insole with good arch support helps
Custom-made insoles and orthotics can help relieve the pressure and ease the pain if your feet are pointing inwards
Doctors may advice some patients to rest and avoid tiring activities until the symptoms get better
Many people think that having a flat foot means having to use safety shoes with a completely flat insole, this is not right in fact the ideal is first of all to study the anatomy of the foot by a specialist who, using a mechanical or electronic instrument, will check the presence of the flat foot and the shape of the foot and then recommend the appropriate insole for your needs. On average, the suggestion is to check the inner insole of the safety shoe you want to buy and make sure that it has a minimum of plantar arch to give some foot support and better alignment of the legs. This will lead to a reduction of the stress of the legs of the whole lumbar part.
Safety footwear for flat feet
What should you look for in a pair of safety shoes?
- The solution is in the insole: choose shoes with a high-quality, arch-support insole that is neither too stiff nor too high, in order to keep the feet in the ideal position. Be careful not to exceed the other way: a too high arch forces the feet in an unnatural position too, just in the other direction. The objective is to apply a slight rotation to the knee to bring it back to the position it’s supposed to have, and an excessive rotation would just be detrimental.
- Before you buy your new safety shoes collect all the needed information, and above all what type of insole is in the footwear and whether or not is equipped with arch support. Don’t base your choice on price, but on the insole!
- Possibly choose boots or ankle boots, because those types of safety footwear protect the ankles better, holding them in position.
- In general, check the product carefully before you buy it.
- There are producers who sell replacement insoles of any kind and for any need.
- If what you are looking for is a more specific solution then you may go to a shop of orthopaedic footwear and submit to a foot examination. Specialists will so be able to provide you with insoles made specifically for you. Nowadays this can even be done online!
Best accessories for an arch support, selected by SafetyShoesToday
Amazon.co.uk
Safety shoes for flat feet: Conclusions
Those were some tricks to choose the perfect safety shoes for your needs.
As soon as you learn those life-hacks and you wear the appropriate safety footwear for your condition you will experience a higher comfort level at work.
I assure you that if you get the right model of safety shoes for your needs, you will live a better working experience.
What’s your opinion on this topic?
Safety shoes for flat feet. Do you have anything to add?
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