“So Why Should I Think About My Legs & Feet If I Haven’t Had A Problem Yet?”
Okay, fair question. But we’ve all had some kind of health promotion discussion during our lives, whether it was from the Green Cross Code man or a Fire Safety Officer. Those nearer to age 21 may have had lessons about how to clean your teeth or wash your hands properly at school. Indeed, most of us visit a Dentist for a check-up. You may have also had some sort of Healthy Eating or Fitness Programme thrown your way at some stage. Well, think of the information from Healthy Legs and Feet as being a variation on a theme.
Just like we take preventative measures to look after other parts of our bodies, our legs and feet need some attention too. We tend to cover them up and squeeze them into things that are the wrong shape. We also expect them to do what we tell them, while working under pressure and often against gravity.
“But There’s Nothing Wrong With My Legs, OR Feet”
Or rather there doesn’t seem to be… YET!… Have a look at all the different occupations below. There’s bound to be something that you identify with from some time in your life.
“I come under one or two categories, but what of it?”
Some people will use their legs more than others
Let’s take a shop worker as an example:
This person could be sitting at a till or standing behind a counter, or walking the floor helping customers. Then there’s behind the scenes checking stock, moving and handling, reaching up, bending down. Lots of things, all involving their legs and feet in some way.
I’ll break it down further if you like:
Sitting at a till, desk etc:
Pressure on your bottom and the backs of your legs from your body
This pressure will alter the blood flow slightly as your blood vessels change shape a little while you are sitting.
Depending on the type of seating, hard or soft, high or low, can also alter the pressure on your legs, so putting more or less pressure onto your feet.
Standing behind a counter etc:
Yes I know. No-one stands around doing nothing when they’re working behind a counter. Usually you’re doing something which requires your undivided attention. If your legs and feet are lucky, you might be able to move around a bit too, so your bodyweight isn’t pressing non-stop against the soles of your feet, not to mention many of your muscles having to stay in the same position.
Stacking shelves, rotating stock etc:
Customers always want something straight away, so you rush around like the proverbial blue-tailed fly, only to drop a tin on your toe or bash your shin against a trolley. The skin on your legs or feet may be damaged, by bruising or a cut.
So as you can see there are a lot of ways your job or lifestyle can have an effect on the health of your legs and feet.