How Does Your Foot Health Affect Your Well-being at Work?

Leonardo da Vinci once said: “The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering." We agree.

The foot is an incredible structure: an intricate and complex mechanism, it supports and balances us, propels us forward through each day, all the while bearing huge loads and absorbing significant and regular shock.

FOOTWEAR FACTS: Were you aware?

A quarter of all the bones in your body are located in your feet
Each foot's sole is home to up to 200,000 nerve endings
On a daily basis, your feet bear the weight of around 25,000 pounds.
For those wearing safety boots, their feet can take up to 15,000 steps per day

Given this, taking care of our feet is essential. But good foot health is not just about ensuring our immediate comfort. If we neglect our feet and compromise on their comfort, temperature and the quality of safety footwear we choose to surround them with, it can lead to significant long-term physical and mental health issues.

International Well-being Week reminds us of the importance of striving for the best levels of mental health at work and at home. In this blog, we're going to explore how well-being for those in safety-critical industries can be significantly improved with the right footwear solution.

WHAT IS WELL-BEING?

Well-being is a very broad concept with many different interpretations, but in simple terms, it is a person's state of comfort and quality of life. In even more basic terms, it's a measurement of happiness. Many think the well-being or 'wellness' of a person comes about through that person experiencing things that are 'good' for them.

Many also believe that feeling respected, safe and free from neglect or abuse are also markers of good well-being. As a result, well-being is very much interlinked with a person's mental health.

What is Foot Health?

Rawhide wearer walking Foot health is a term that describes the overall well-being of feet. Foot health is also an important term because it reminds us that feet are an incredibly important commodity that we rely on daily throughout our whole lives, and so they need looking after. Foot health can mean a range of things, including:

Keeping them clean and maintaining proper hygiene
Keeping them dry and cool
Choosing correct-fitting footwear
Being informed and proactive about avoiding ailments such as blisters, Athlete's foot, corns, calluses and bunions.

As you can see, foot health covers a wide spectrum - it can mean regularly trimming toenails to prevent ingrown toe nails, right the way up to finding your arch height so your foot and musculoskeletal system is supported with the correct foot bed.

So, let's look at some common foot health issues experienced by work boot wearers, and see where the solutions lie, so whatever the requirement, you're taking foot health to a whole new level.

FOOT PAIN THROUGH RUBBING OR CHAFINg

IMPACT ON WELL-BEING:

Boots that rub or chafe the skin can create all manner of painful foot health issues such as blisters, ingrown toenails, corns, poor circulation and even joint irritation. These can swiftly lead to extreme discomfort, loss of safety focus and joint misalignment through changing gait. Some of these issues are painful, some are dangerous - but they can all have a long-term impact on well-being.

THE FOOTWEAR SOLUTION

Pictured: V12's best selling lightweight and waterproof safety hiker V1501.01 Caiman IGS

Fit

If your boots are built on a generic last (the foot form around which a boot is constructed), feet can suffer. Because the majority of footwear is made in Asian nations, this often means footwear produced there is narrower, as people native to that region have a narrower foot shape. The result? Well, if you are European, you'll typically have a wider foot, so this can mean your boots will be too tight, and painful feet become almost a certainty.

V12 created its unique last by using over 4,000 global foot scans, so they give a universal fit to both narrow and wider feet. This eliminates the rubbing and pinching that is so common with a pair of boots made on a generic, narrow and non-contoured last.

See for yourself below. The V12 last (in blue

V12 vs nominal lasts-1

Fastening

The way we do up work boots seems like a straightforward process, but done in the wrong way, and it can end up having significant negative impacts on our foot health and well-being. Fastened too tightly, boots can cause painful rubbing and breathability issues, but equally, if they're not fastened securely enough, they can also cause foot slippage which can create similar chafing problems.

Have you seen our lacing video guides? You'll discover a range of different ways to fasten safety boots to get greater stability and avoid pain points. Watch below:

Lack of arch support

IMPACT ON WELL-BEING:

Lack of arch support through the absence of or incorrect insoles can cause the debilitating heel pain of Plantar Fasciitis, which is currently endured by 10% of the population. As well as this, for many people in safety-critical roles, walking on hard floors such as painted concrete or ceramic tiles can really take its toll on feet, leading to foot pain, lower limb fatigue and added stresses on surrounding foot structures. These ailments can cause decreased mobility, reduced productivity, long-term joint pain and extended time off work. In short, a serious compromise of well-being.

THE FOOTWEAR SOLUTION

Dynamic insoles with bespoke arch-height support can make a huge difference to combating Plantar pain and musculoskeletal misalignment.

Find out all about how a pair of bespoke arch-supporting footbeds - whether you have low, medium or high arches - can be a game-changer for foot health and well being here.

Are your insoles designed with shock-absorbing heel pods? Watch below to find out the benefits:

HOT, SWEATY FEET

IMPACT ON WELL-BEING:

Overly hot feet is a very common complaint from safety boot wearers. As well as being incredibly uncomfortable and distracting, hot feet can lead to a range of foot health issues including blisters and conditions like Athlete's foot. When the foot gets wet, whether from water or sweat, the skin softens - a process known as maceration - and this increases the risk of the skin breaking and getting infected if rubbed or chafed.

As well as the inherent discomfort, hot feet can cause a loss of safety focus through itching and tingling, it can worsen diabetic neuropathy and can lead to an increased chance of foot infection. As a result, it's a well-being must that feet remain as cool as possible in a work boot.

THE FOOTWEAR SOLUTION

Footwear developed for cool and breathable feet at the fore is essential. A boot with breathable lining can make a big difference, and there are even more specialised innovations on the market too, such as air-channel insoles and anti-perspiration mesh uppers, both of which feature in the V1930 Turbo safety trainer. (pictured)

Remember, heat reduction is key to comfort, and comfort is key to well-being, so the more your foot can breathe in your boot, the better.

Want to know more? We've written a blog guide to keep you in the know - and your feet cool. Read it here.

Heavy feet

IMPACT ON WELL-BEING:

When it comes to comfort, lightweight work boots should be seen as essential - not just a luxury. They can help alleviate a range of debilitating and uncomfortable issues such as foot fatigue, tired and heavy legs and of course impacted well-being and safety focus through discomfort.

As well as this, over time, wearing footwear that is too heavy can cause inflamed tendons - leading to possible tendonitis - as well as joint strain, all of which can negatively impact mental health and long-term well-being if left unaddressed.

THE FOOTWEAR SOLUTION

Composite or fibreglass materials are emerging as a popular choice for non-metal protective components, providing a strong and lightweight alternative to traditional steel toecaps and anti-penetration midsoles. Their lighter weight significantly enhances wearer comfort throughout the day, which will make a quickly noticeable improvement in overall well-being.

And when it comes to weight-saving, boots can also come in lighter if they feature outsole and midlayer materials such as EVA and PU, which are lighter than the rubber commonly used in footwear construction. Find out more about how to improve well-being and comfort through lighter footwear in this guide.

STEPPING INTO WELL-BEING

So when it comes to well-being both at work and at home, it's clear that your feet - and more significantly what you put them in - have a huge part to play.

If you're buying safety footwear for yourself or for your team, and you now have a clearer idea of the foot health and safety solution you need, head to our Boot Finder by clicking the button below, and you can specify all of the footwear requirements and get our expert 'best pick' recommendations.