Common Foot Problems for Postal Employees

Postal workers spend their shifts walking, which can result in foot problems that range from easily treated to severe. The most common foot problems affect the toes and heels, but other areas of the feet can be affected as well. Most of the problems stem from poor shoe choice, improper warm-up and lack of rest. Therefore, the problems, while uncomfortable, are quite easy to treat and prevent.

Heel

• The three most common problems with the heel that postal workers face are achilles tendonitis, heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. Achilles tendonitis refers to inflammation of the tendon that connects the heel bones, and results from improper warm-up. Heel spurs occur when areas of the heel calcifies to form growth, or spurs, usually due to wearing the wrong shoes or improper warm-up. Finally, plantar fasciitis is heel pain, typically resulting from inflammation at the bottom of the foot.

Toes

• The most common problems postal workers experience in the toes are bunions, hammertoe, ingrown toenails and neuromas. Bunions, which tend to be hereditary but irritated by walking, are misaligned toe joints that result in an outward slant of the big toe joint. Hammertoe most commonly occurs in the second toe, but sometimes affects the smaller three, and means the toe bends under in a claw-like position. Ingrown toenails can occur from shoe-pressure, fungus, or improperly cut toenails, and are a painful ingrowing of the toenail. Neuromas, enlarged growths that are benign, occur commonly between the third and fourth toe. They are a result of poor bone structure and ill-fitting shoes.

Other areas

• Other parts of the foot and lower leg can also be commonly injured when working in the postal service area. Stress fractures can occur anywhere on the foot that a bone is repeatedly aggravated or stressed. Shin splints are a painful condition of the leg bone that happen when a muscle or tendon is inflamed. And sesamoiditis refers to the inflammation or rupture of the two small bones on the bottom of the foot.

Treatments

• The treatment of most of these conditions is simple. Because almost all of these conditions result from too much pressure and activity on a certain part of the foot, the key to treating them is ice, rest and anti-inflammatory medicine, like ibuprofen. If the pain or discomfort continues even after sufficient rest, it may be necessary to consult a doctor. Corrective shoes and arches can relieve sesamoiditis and shin splints. Surgery may be necessary to fully relieve bunions and neuromas.

Prevention

• Prevention of these foot conditions lies heavily in choosing the shoes that are right for your foot structure. Also, stretching legs and feet before walking is highly important. If you are prone to foot discomfort, ice feet regularly after walking to prevent severe swelling and inflammation that causes many of these problems.