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covid feet: our tootsies are feeling the strain of working from home
a break from the confines of shoes sounds like paradise, but podiatrists are warning the extra strain on our feet is taking its toll.
nov 10 2021
3 minute read
many patients — even those without past foot injuries — are complaining about heel pain. (getty)
working from home sans shoes for more than 18 months seems to have caused a surge in heel pain and exacerbated foot injuries.
“we do a lot of walking around the house; we don’t realize just how much walking we do,” says stephanie playford, d.ch., president of the canadian federation of podiatric medicine. “if you’re looking at somebody that has hardwood floors, ceramic tile, that adds that extra layer of stress and strain to the feet.
“if we’re not having our shoes on supporting our feet, the muscles get tired easily, this leads to fatigue that can create stress on not only the foot, but the ankle, the knee, the hip, the lower back, all the way up the body.”
james hill, president of the canadian podiatric medical association (cpma), also says that many patients — even those without past foot injuries — are complaining about heel pain.
plantar fasciitis is one of the most common types of heel pain, according to the mayo clinic. it occurs when the tissue that stretches from the heel to the toes, the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed or strained. minor tears in the muscle usually occur when the plantar fascia is forced to stretch — like when we first put our feet down on the floor in the morning, or after an extended period of time relaxing on the couch. over time, people with plantar fasciitis may alter the way they walk and stand to avoid causing more pain to their foot, which can cause problems with the knees, hips, or back.
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individuals who are prescribed orthotics are especially at risk of increased muscle strain while going barefoot at home. playford recommends having a pair of indoor shoes, or even a sturdy pair of slippers, to protect feet and add an extra layer of support where it is needed.
playford also warns that working out without the proper shoes on, a common scenario now that so many people are exercising at home, has led to an uptick in injuries.
“we’re seeing people having stress fractures, ankle sprains and strains just because they’re [working out] at home and not thinking ‘i really should have gym shoes on,’” she says.
hill recommends that if patients are noticing an increase in pain, they should reach out to a medical professional for a proper diagnosis. depending on the cause, treatment will likely include a mixture of wearing orthotic shoes (even while inside) and foot exercises to strengthen weakened or damaged muscles.
more severe injuries on the way
both playford and hill are concerned about an increase in the severity of injuries during the pandemic related to pre-existing conditions.
last november, the cpma sounded alarm bells about foot health in the diabetic population. during the pandemic, t he odds of undergoing a foot amputation due to complications from diabetes was 10.8 times higher at one clinic in the u.s. versus before the pandemic, according to a study published in the journal of the american podiatric medical association. the need for major amputations due to diabetic foot concerns, defined as below-the knee or higher, was also three times greater.
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playford explains that many of her elderly patients are concerned about potentially exposing themselves to covid-19 and are, as a result, stretching out the amount of time in between appointments — or avoiding them all together. this can be detrimental to conditions that require constant care, like diabetic neuropathy.
she says that if patients are nervous about attending an appointment in person, they can also request an appointment over the phone. although much of the diagnosis and treatment around foot issues is hands-on, at the very least connecting with a podiatrist can help orient patients to the cause of their foot pain and open up a conversation about staying safe for in-office appointments.
emjones@postmedia.com | @jonesyjourn
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