Voran Safety Footwear Is Not Just For Your Feet
The importance of footwear is vital in maintaining good physical health. Wearing inadequate or poorly fitting shoes can result in a range of physical disorders that can have lasting effects on the body. Shoes that don't fit properly can cause instability when walking or standing, which can increase the risk of falls and other injuries, like musculoskeletal disorders.
Potential Physical Disorders Caused by Inadequate Footwear
When shoes do not provide proper support, the body compensates by altering its natural alignment, which can lead to muscle strain and joint pain. The most direct consequence is soreness in some part of the foot or in several parts (heel, sole, instep, toes). Another common consequence is an alteration in the position of the toes which can, in time, cause atrophy. Pain in the spine, hips, knees, ankles, and leg muscles are also very common. Pathologies in the lumbosacral spine and kneecap injuries are quite frequent as well.
Most Common Foot Pathologies
Plantar Fasciitis: This is one of the most common causes of pain in the heel area. It implies the inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes (plantar fascia). Plantar fasciitis causes a shooting pain when taking the first few steps in the morning. The pain usually goes away as you get up and move, but can come back after long periods of standing up, or when you stand up after being in a sitting position for some time. People with overweight and people who wear shoes with inadequate support are at greater risk of having plantar fasciitis.
Metatarsalgia: The inflammation of the metatarsals, i.e., one or all of the long bones that can be found in the front portion of the foot and reach the base of the toes. Along with the heel area, the metatarsals are the most important foothold when walking. When this area becomes inflamed, it causes strong, continual, and intense pain in the sole, exactly where the toes end, and it becomes worse when standing up, walking or running. It can also cause a sensation of having a stone in the shoe, numbness, or tingling in the toes. Tendinopathy: Tendons are the tissue that inserts muscles into the bones. Our feet have several tendons and, if they become inflamed due to an overload, an abnormal gait, inadequate footwear, or injuries, they can cause great pain to different areas of the foot. Foot Osteoarthritis: A progressive damage to the cartilage in one or several joints of the feet. The ankle is usually the first joint in the foot to become deteriorated with osteoarthritis. Circulatory disorders of the lower extremities: Another potential physical disorder caused by inadequate footwear is poor circulation. Improper footwear can restrict blood flow to the feet, leading to numbness, tingling, and even a sensation of cold feet. Over time, this can result in more serious conditions such as peripheral neuropathy.Wearing Adequate Footwear
Good safety footwear should have these characteristics:
Comfort: A comfortable, light shoe should allow the foot to move freely and to interact with the floor.
Protection: Impact cushioning during the workday is key, and the toe cap should protect the user from potential impact.
Prevention and treatment of illnesses: Adequate footwear can prevent multiple pathologies related to bad gait.
Voran Energy Benefits
Our safety shoes improve workers’ lives by offering them both protection and prevention. The SportSafe line guarantees the safety of wearers when they’re on the job, while also helping them prevent various workplace-related pathologies.
All Voran models were created and developed with the end goal of looking after the user and providing absolute comfort. Thanks to the combination of materials and design, our new technologies provide comfort (Infinergy®, Ultralight PU, S-Motion concept, High Performance, Dryzone), protection (Infinergy®, Shock Absorber, Composite/Aluminum Toe Cap), and prevention (Infinergy®, 3D Layer, S-Motion Concept, Flat Design, High Performance, Microtec Pro) to our users.
