Ask HN: Work standing up and heel pain

2 points by ksdsh 15 years ago | 4 comments

I have tried to work standing up for about two weeks. I feel great except heel pain. Does anybody have some experience to lighten heel pain while working standing up? Thanks!

trouble 15 years ago |

Wikipedia suggests [1] the only non-surgical means of managing plantar fasciitis (i.e. heel pain) is the use of othotics - foot supports. Stretching your calf muscles and the arch of your foot can help in the short term as well.

But you don't want to let your heel pain get to a point where it becomes chronic - if your heels hurt, stay off your feet and don't aggravate the condition.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis

dasht 15 years ago |

Did you ever notice how some jobs are considered less desirable than others or at least in some ways unpleasant because "you have to be on your feet all day"?

I suggest (not as medical advice, just common sense):

Avoid holding yourself in any one position for most of the day. Move naturally, instead. Sometimes sit. Sometimes stand. Etc.

brudgers 15 years ago |

New shoes. The soles of your shoes can easily have 1mm (1/16") of differential wear and so you wind up standing on a consistently uneven surface all day.

[Disclaimer: not science, just my experience, I have flat feet and when I experience heel pain it's to replace the shoes]

pivo 15 years ago |

Cooks, who are on their feet a lot, often wear clogs or crocks for shoes and/or stand on thick, squishy rubber mats.