Going Back to Work After Quarantining from COVID-19

Since the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak, many of us have been out of work. A lot of these people have been temporarily laid off. Not to mention a lot of us have not much to do at home but watch TV or play video games. So, how can we easily go from being at home sitting most of the day, back to being on our feet at work (especially bartenders and servers.) Many of us who are on our feet all day working eventually got used to it, but how do you go back to the grind without experiencing achy feet?

According to a study, standing a significant part of the day while working an 8-hour shift can cause lower limb muscle fatigue. Being on your feet all day could cause long term damage such as back pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Those who work in a field such as bank tellers, assembly line workers, and warehouse personnel have no other choice. And when returning to work after a pandemic such as COVID-19, it’s important to take care of ourselves.

Tips For Going Back to Work after COVID-19 Quarantine

Here are some ways to cope with going back to a job which requires you to be on your feet all day after the COVID-19 outbreak quarantine.

Make Sure to You Have Supportive Shoes

Some people believe that a flat-soled shoe would be the first choice if you work on your feet all day, however, this isn’t recommended for prolonged standing. Instead, it’s important to keep your heel elevated less than 2-inches.

Another good option for shoes is arch supports. There are shoe insoles at athletic stores for purchase. Although, it may be a good idea to visit a podiatrist for custom made insoles if you don’t plan on changing your career anytime soon.

Don’t forget, our feet are our foundation and we need to take very good care of them, especially if we are on them all day.

Wear Shoes that Properly Fit

It may be surprising to most, however, many Americans wear the wrong fitted shoe. If we wear the wrong fit of shoe it can cut off circulation to your feet. This increases the chances of blisters and achy feet. Sometimes it may even be unbearable. It’s easy to be properly fitted ay an athletic shoe store. This will allow for a comfortable fit.

Stretch Your Feet Often

If we stand or walk all day, muscles tend to become stiff and sore. It’s important to stop every hour or so to stretch and relax.

Calf raises

These are a great way to get blood pumped and flowing properly.

Stand tall on the edge of a step or platform, with your abdominal muscles pulled in.
Secure the balls of your feet firmly on the step with your heels hanging over the edge.
Raise your heels a few inches above the step as you stand on your tiptoes, and hold for a second.
Lower your heels back to even with the platform.
Repeat 10 times.

Runner’s stretch

This another great way to get the blood flowing.

Face a wall and place your hands against it.
Extend one leg behind your body.
Push your heel to the floor as far as it will go.
Hold for a moment to feel the stretch and then switch sides.
Repeat three times on each leg.

Home Foot Care is Important

Once you reach home from a long day of working on your feet, self-care is very important. Try one or more of these home treatments:

Ice Your Feet

Nope, we don’t mean take out an icepack from the freezer. We mean submerging your feet into a bucket of ice and water for 20-minutes. I know a lot of you just cringed at the sound of that, however, ice is an easy and effective way to help heal our feet faster.

Elevate Your Feet

I’m sure most of us have had to elevate our feet at least once in our lifetime, whether it be from a surgical procedure or spraining our ankle. By elevating your feet above your heart, swelling will go down and help ease foot pain.

Foot Massages

Start with a tennis ball on the floor, roll your foot from heel to toe over the tennis ball. This gentle massage with help stretch foot muscles and allow your feet to recover quicker.

If pain persists when you go back to work from the COVID-19 quarantine you may need additional help from a podiatrist. Call us at 888-409-8006 for a world-renowned podiatrist in the South Florida area.