A Methodological Approach to Alleviate a Cryptic Occupational Hazard Concerning the Impact of Standing Activities for...

Extensive standing activities among various professions like nurses, teachers, security guards, and so on, can increase predisposition to corns, callus, heel spur, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and even varicose veins. This study aims to explore the extent and onset of discomfort experienced by individuals exposed to extensive standing; identifying some major contributors to their discomfort and commonly adopted management for this discomfort.

Healthy women (n = 162) of age group 30-45 years, occupationally exposed to extensive standing for nearly 40% of the shift duration (8 hours), responded to structured questionnaire with the foot map and Likert scale reporting the region and intensity of discomfort experienced during complete work shift at regular time intervals. Pedobarographical investigations were conducted to identify the plantar pressure distribution and magnitude.

Almost 60% of respondents started feeling pain after 3 hours of continuous standing. Discomfort in area of hind foot was most prevalent and overlapping areas of discomfort were unveiled. Significant association (r = +0.42; P < 0.05) between generated intensity of discomfort and duration of standing was identified. Pedobarographical investigations revealed significant reduction in pressure in shod condition than in bare foot situation (P = 0.03). Redistribution of maximum pressure-generating zones of plantar pressure was also observed in shod condition.

Extensive standing may affect productivity at workplace considerably, necessitating the relevant effective management. Thus, pain management with respect to time followed by identification of plantar pressure evaluations was important to intervene precisely with time management and pressure redistribution strategies to mitigate this encrypted occupational discomfort.