Teachers Suffer from Foot and Leg Problems
Who would have thought that you spend you entire career teaching and you end up suffering from foot and knee pain in your later years? We didn’t know that too, but over the years, we have seen so many teachers come through our doors, saying that if only they knew, they would have done something different. The number of steps a teacher takes a day, plus the number of hours they are on their feet teaching, plus the number of books and worksheets they have to carry going up these steps (thankfully some schools have elevators now), it’s no wonder the feet and knee eventually gave in.
Common Foot Issues Teachers Face
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis refers to inflammation of the heel. Have you encountered a sharp pain on your feet when you get up in the morning? Or when you get up from your seat? Yes that’s plantar fasciitis.
Being in a job that requires you to be on your feet almost all the time, and yet maintain a certain formal dress code, means that the shoes don’t usually offer enough cushion and support. This leads to excessive pressure on the heel, causing plantar fasciitis.
Bunions
Bunions are those big lumps you see at the big toe. It usually happens to women aged 40 and above. We heard so many stories of female teachers regretting wearing heels to work in their younger days, because that is one of the main causes of bunions. This happens when you force your toes to fit into a pointed toe box over a period of time, your big toe starts to turn inwards towards the second toe, and develops bunion.
Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Consistent climbing up and down of stairs carrying heavy items, this causes the cartilage between the knee joints to wear out eventually. Osteoarthritis of the knee happens very gradually, and unfortunately, when it hits you, there’s very little you can do other than to manage the pain. We strongly advise prevention!
How to Take Care
Wear properly fitting shoes
Yes, wear shoes that fit well, with plenty of space in the toe box, and hopefully sufficient cushioning. Teaching is a physical job. It should be matched with a proper pair of footwear.
Wear insoles
Unfortunately, most shoes are not custom fitted and made to your feet. In most cases, we find that fitting a pair of insoles can significantly increase the comfort level and reduce the chances of pain and injuries in the long term.
Strengthen your muscles
Well, if it is a physical job, we strongly encourage teachers to do stretching and strengthen their calves and thighs. Most often, these muscles are overused and become very tight over the years. Simple calf and thigh stretch (see below) can go a long way to protecting your feet and knees.
In Gratitude to All Our Teachers
Finally, we like to take this opportunity to give back to all our teachers who have given so selflessly to us.
If you visit our stores, we will give a complimentary Foot Scan and consultation to advise on your feet issues, and should you decide to purchase anything, simply show your teacher’s identity and we will give a $25 discount for every minimum purchase of $200 in a single receipt.
Make an appointment with us>>> https://feetcare.sg/contact/
https://www.injurymap.com/diagnoses/plantar-fasciitis
Anatomy illustrations from:https://www.injurymap.com/diagnoses/plantar-fasciitis
