There are infinite ways that you can injure your foot: running, dancing, fake-wrestling your brother, falling off your bicycle, tripping on the sidewalk, jumping in a pile of leaves, stepping on a sharp object, slipping on wet tile – only your imagination limits the manner in which feet get punctured, bent, lacerated, sprained, or fractured!

What about at work? Well, the National Safety Council states that people incur approximately 120,000 injuries on the job every year. About 40,000 of those are injuries to the feet.

1. Think about prevention first. The best way to deal with foot injuries at work is to prevent them from happening in the first place. For example, if you work in a factory or in construction, does your company comply with the recommended standards of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for your line of work? If you work in an office, locate and remove any obstacles in your path that you might trip on such as wires or furniture, and make sure pathways are well-lit.
2. Wear the recommended shoes. 1 out of every 4 of those annual on-the-job foot injuries can be attributed to the wrong footwear. A job that requires safety boots does so for a reason. If your job calls for wearing lugged soles or steel toe caps, then you should wear them without hesitation. Even if you work in an office setting, it’s important to consider good shoes. They should fit properly with plenty of toe room and good arch support.
3. Consider the flooring. Your choice of shoe will also be influenced by the type of flooring at your job. Working on concrete floors will call for more cushioning than carpeted ones. If floors are often slippery, help prevent falls with the right soles.
4. Take a break. People who work on their feet all day such as retail salespeople or fast-food servers are likely to experience foot issues. Minimize the effects of blisters, corns, calluses, and chronic foot odor by resting your feet whenever possible, wearing supportive shoes, and changing up your shoes rather than wearing the same ones every day.

If you do suffer an injury to your feet at work, contact the foot experts of the river region – Dr. Heidi M. Christie and Dr. Chanda L. Day-Houts of Montgomery Foot Care Specialists. Many injuries will heal faster when treated promptly, so don’t hesitate to make an appointment online or give us a call in Montgomery, AL at (334) 396-3668.