How safety boots can cause foot and ankle pain? What can you do?

If you start wearing works boots, this is a must-read. Learn whether they could be hurting you and what you can do to stop it.

Industrial safety boots are necessary for all manual labor jobs in Australia, and they help to protect you from workplace dangers and are an occupational health and safety requirement.

Foot and ankle discomfort brought on by safety footwear is common for those working in the construction industry. Nail problems such as thickened nails and increased rates of tinea pedis (fungal skin infections or Athlete’s foot) are common among those who wear these boots.

Safety boots may be bulky since they shield your feet from possible harm and sharp items. Your lower body, particularly your calf, Achilles, and heel/arch, might suffer from this added weight in addition to the shoe's minimal arch support.

A typical pair of men's runners weigh around 0.5kg, however, safety boots may weigh up to 2.6kg!

These shoes may increase the likelihood of developing muscle strains in your lower limbs, and increase the risk of plantar fasciitis when you combine the concrete flooring, lengthy workdays, and intensity of your work.

What can you do to manage pain from work boots?

1. Examine the condition of your safety footwear (important first step):
Are they older than a year?
Do they show any indications of wear?
Have they lost their structure and become too flexible?
Have they now begun to hurt after being used for three months? – You may bring your work boots to our Bondi Junction podiatry clinic for a thorough evaluation if you don't feel comfortable evaluating them yourself. A new set of boots could be the solution. Some work boots are lighter than others and may be more suitable.

2. Insert an orthotic into your work boots:
Our goal is that every step you can offload the area of stress and be relieved with custom orthotics. A 3D scanning of your feet is used to create a personalized orthotic, which can be fitted inside any shoe and has a prescription specific to your professional needs. Make an appointment with us to determine if you qualify for them.

3. Treatment & Maintenance:
You might benefit from manual therapy, taping, an exercise routine, shockwave therapy, joint mobilizations, dry needling to manage your pain and potentially treat your foot pain. Our qualified Sydney podiatrist can help you manage your foot pain.

4. Seek expert help: If you're in pain it is advised to seek advice from a qualified podiatrist to diagnose the condition and develop a suitable treatment plan.