How To Care For Your Unhappy Feet, Part 1: Podiatrists and Pre-Shift Tips
Welcome to our Unhappy Feet Series, exploring how people working in F&B can take better care of their feet. We seek expert advice from podiatrists and TCM physicians on pre and post-shift tips.
Oh, the profanities your feet would spout if only they could talk.
The unspoken and unglamorous truth is: being in F&B is punishing for the feet.
“I have recently seen a wonderful chef, who spends 13 hours a day standing to cook, standing to eat, standing to serve,” says Tim Maden, Senior Podiatrst at The Foot Practice.
Podiatrists are specialised foot doctors who treat people suffering from lower limb or common foot problems.
This particular chef had been suffering from heel pain for six months. But due to the time-consuming demands of his job, he only went to see a GP (General Practitioner) once.
“In truth, he didn’t know who to see. The pain reduced with the painkillers but each morning it returned. Each time he spent long-term on his feet it returned. Each time he walked long the pain returned, and each time he walked with bare feet at home it returned,” adds Maden.
Similarly, Kelvin Tay, Principal Podiatrist of The Sole Clinic estimates that he sees around three people from the F&B industry every week.
Both podiatrists have seen a range of F&B professionals, from owners to dishwashers. Heels are one of the most common areas to get pain.
So short of seeing a podiatrist, what can you do?
Here are some useful pre-shift tips and preventive measures from experts:
#1: Wear cotton socks at all times and change them twice a day
Wearing 100% cotton socks when wearing covered shoes will help to absorb sweat and moisture in the feet.
That reduces the chances of getting fungal foot infection, especially during a long shift. Unless you’d rather take the risk.
#2: Wear appropriate shoes
Cinderella is proof that a pair of new shoes can be a life-changing experience.
Who wants to limp around in the middle of busy service with a huge blister?
The point is, shoes can look cool and make your feet feel like a million bucks too.
Give yourself an excuse to shop for new kicks. While they don’t need to look like a boring pair of black shoes, keep these important guidelines in mind. Your feet will love you for it.
#3: Alternate your shoes daily
The only thing better than a pair of awesome shoes is…two (or more) pairs of awesome shoes.
Like in a relationship, your shoes need some time away from you too.
There are a few great reasons for alternating your shoes, including:
- ‘Rest’ your favourite pair of shoes by allowing the cushioning foam cells in the shoe to decompress. This prolongs the lifespan of your beloved kicks.
- Let your shoes dry. Moisture is accumulated throughout a shift, which slowly eats away at the shoe material and cultivates bacteria, causing athlete’s foot. Alternate your shoes to give them some time to dry out.
- Redistribute weight of your feet. Different pairs of shoes stress different parts of your feet and legs, so swapping them on alternate days avoids over-stressing a particular muscle, tendon, bone or ligament.
#4: Don’t be too lazy to stretch
Nobody loves stretching. But making a small effort to stretch throughout the shift works wonders for your painful calves and heels.
Here are some simple calf stretches you can do to ease tension:
Calf stretch #1:
Push your hands against the wall. Bend the front knee and keep the back leg straight.
Hold for 1 minute. Do it 2-3 times a day.
Calf stretch #2:
While standing on a step, shift one foot backwards halfway and let the heel drop. Keep knees locked and back straight.
Hold for 1 minute. Do it 2-3 times a day.
Estimated time needed: 4 minutes (per set).
That’s only around the time taken to smoke one cigarette.
