Many professions require individuals to be on their feet for hours a day, which often includes standing in one position for prolonged periods. Aching feet and sore calf muscles are side effects of being on your feet for too long. Understanding how to relieve leg pain from standing all day helps protect your body from long-term or even permanent harm.
Standing for extended periods of time can lead to a variety of uncomfortable and chronic health concerns, including:
- Inflammation in the legs and back
- Spinal and lower joint pain
- Varicose veins
- Muscle stiffness and cramping
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to soothe these conditions or even prevent them. The guide below discusses which professions require the most standing, what standing does to your legs over time, and methods for alleviating soreness and taking good care of your feet and legs.
If you stand for most of the day, Nurse Yard’s compression socks can help ease muscle fatigue, improve circulation, and prevent varicose veins. Graduated pressure fosters better circulation, while the no-slip cuff keeps them in place while you’re on the go. Check out our styles today for fast, affordable pain relief!
How Standing All Day Impacts Your Legs
Before we discuss how to relieve leg pain from standing all day, it’s important to understand how standing for long periods impacts your legs. Like any other activity, standing for too long can have a negative impact on your body. Human bodies are made to move, and when we don’t, it can cause chronic pain, inflammation, and other issues. Below are two of the most common results of prolonged standing.
Restricted Blood Flow
Standing with your legs straight for a long time restricts blood flow in your body, which can cause fluids to pool in your feet and legs. This pooling can cause painful swelling and, if left untreated, can result in varicose veins, which are very uncomfortable.
A good way to improve circulation is to bend your knees and shake your legs out during the day. You can also wear compression socks for better blood flow and reduced discomfort.
Strained and Fatigued Muscles
Standing actually takes more of a toll on your leg muscles than walking or running due to restricted blood flow. It also places your muscles under sustained pressure, which can cause cramping and excessive muscle soreness.
Professions Most Impacted By Leg Pain From Standing
Certain types of employment require employees to stand in one place for up to hours at a time with little opportunity to walk or sit. Some of these professions include:
- Nurses and hospital staff
- Surgeons
- Waiters and bartenders
- Hotel and hospitality workers
- Teachers
- Retail staff
- Hairdressers
- Restaurant cooks, servers, and managers
- Construction workers
- Bank tellers
- Security guards
If you have one of these jobs, you may already be struggling with pain, inflammation, or muscle cramping. Fortunately, there are a few ways for you to combat these and other symptoms of prolonged standing.
4 Tips To Relieve Leg Pain and Foot Pain From Standing
Chronic soreness and inflammation in your legs can make the hours outside of work less productive and less pleasant. If you frequently end your shifts with sore legs and feet, there are plenty of ways to care for your muscles and joints before, during, and after work. The techniques below will help alleviate both short and long-term discomfort so you can enjoy you can be more comfortable at work and get more enjoyment from your free time.
1. Wear Compression Socks During Work Hours
Compression socks for leg pain may be the most effective way to relieve discomfort from standing. They gently but firmly apply pressure to your calves, which prevents fluid buildup and improves circulation. Wearing them while working combats muscle fatigue and soreness, supports connective tissue, and helps alleviate strain on your joints.
Additionally, Nurse Yard’s compression socks have built-in arch support and cushioned ankles to comfort your instep and prevent chafing.
2. Stretch During Breaks
Light stretching alleviates stiffness and cramping by encouraging fluids to redistribute and allowing strained muscles to relax for a few seconds at a time. Try bending down to touch your toes, pulling your foot up behind you, or even doing some floor stretches if you can find enough space.
Doing this several times a day will provide some relief and help you stand comfortably for longer.
3. Wear Supportive and Comfortable Shoes
The right footwear can make standing more pleasant by providing ergonomic cushioning. Supportive shoes absorb some of the pressure of standing, which alleviates strain on your muscles and joints. They also usually feature arch support to comfort your instep and prevent chronic foot pain.
4. Drink Plenty of Water to Reduce Swelling
Staying hydrated throughout the day flushes excess fluids from your body, stopping them from pooling in your legs and feet. Drinking water with electrolytes also fortifies your body with potassium and magnesium, which prevents muscle cramps and reduces soreness.
At-Home Self-Care For Leg Pain
Doing the things listed above will reduce your leg pain from standing all day, but you’ll likely still experience some soreness. Taking good care of your feet and legs after work will not only help reduce pain in the short term but also keep you healthier in the long run. Below are three ways to practice self-care for leg pain at home.
1. Elevate Your Feet
Sitting with your feet propped above your heart fights the pull of gravity to aid circulation and reduce fluid retention. As fluids redistribute, the inflammation causing your pain will subside, and you’ll feel more comfortable while standing.
2. Foam Roll or Massage Your Legs
Massaging your legs also helps redistribute fluids, soothe aching muscles, and alleviate muscle tension. You can either use your hands to gently but firmly rub long strokes down your calves or use a semi-firm foam roller for a deeper massage.
3. Soak Your Feet
An Epsom salt soak is one of the oldest methods for reducing foot and leg pain. Epsom salts contain minerals, like magnesium, that are absorbed through the skin. Together with warm water, these minerals help your muscles relax, which helps relieve foot pain caused by standing.
Why Compression is the Best Option For Leg Pain Relief
Though any of the techniques listed above will help reduce foot and leg pain from standing all day, compression is the best option for continuous pain relief. Unlike the other techniques, you can apply compression to your legs and feet all day by wearing compression socks.
These socks remedy the two main causes of pain from standing—reduced blood circulation and fluid retention. They’re also affordable, so you can get enough pairs to wear a fresh one every day.
Relieve Leg Pain While You Stand With Compression Socks From Nurse Yard
If you stand for long periods of time, Nurse Yard compression socks could be the solution for muscle fatigue, swollen feet and ankles, and varicose veins. While other socks just offer compression, Nurse Yard’s specialized design has integrated features for maximum pain relief.
From the arch support and cushioned ankle to the no-slip cuff and graduated compression, every feature of our compression socks is there to enhance your comfort. Want to see for yourself? Order two pairs of Nurse Yard compression socks today and get the second pair 70% off!