Have you noticed that standing for a long time in one position can leave you with a niggling pain in your lower back, feet and legs? For some workers, standing is an inevitable part of their job and is unavoidable. Think about shop workers, assembly line workers, hairdressers and kitchen staff, to name a few.
If your job involves standing on hard surfaces, such as concrete for much of the day you will start to feel the effects before too long. Prolonged standing can cause the leg and lower back muscles to stiffen and contract as they work to keep us upright and stable. This can cause irritation and inflammation of the nerves. Your circulatory system also has to work harder to fight gravity and pump blood all around your body. Reduced blood flow contributes to feelings of achiness and heaviness, while a harder working circulatory system depletes our energy quickly, leaving us feeling tired and sluggish. That’s right, you might be left feeling exhausted at the end of the day and unsure why as you've been standing still all day. But simply standing still can wear your body out a surprising amount!
Standing workers frequently complain of musculoskeletal pain, stiffness, joint problems, spinal cord compression, bunions and callouses, and even pain in the neck and shoulders. That is quite a list of complaints! Injuries such as these can lead to decreased productivity at work and even staff absences.
If you are looking for ways to feel more comfortable and reduce the stress on your body in the workplace, then you should consider buying an anti-fatigue mat. If you are not sure what these are, or how they work, then we provide a mini-guide to anti-fatigue mats below.
What Are Anti-Fatigue Mats?
Anti-fatigue mats are designed to relieve the stress placed on the body of workers who spend a large proportion of their day standing on hard surfaces. They are made from a thick yet soft textured material, such as foam, PVC, polyurethane, vinyl, and rubber.
Anti-fatigue mats help to prevent unnecessary contraction of the muscles, boost circulation and reduce fatigue. They can also insulate the feet against cold floors, which can exacerbate musculoskeletal issues. A good quality anti-fatigue mat will be anti-slip to ensure you stay safe at work.
How Do Anti-Fatigue Mats Work?
As anti-fatigue mats are made from a soft and flexible material, they are comfortable to stand on for long periods. But that is not all! The softness and flexibility of anti-fatigue mats encourage small movements of the muscles, known as micro-movements, helping to keep them mobile and avoiding stiffness. By providing some instability underfoot, these mats trigger the repeated activation of the leg muscles, keeping them active and alert. This encourages you to shift your weight into a neutral position and maintain good posture throughout the workday. Repeated movements also ensure that your blood is circulating effectively around your body as you work.
Choosing A Suitable Anti-Fatigue Mat
Clearly, anti-fatigue mats can deliver a whole host of benefits to individuals who are required to stand for prolonged periods of time. A recently published study reported that anti-fatigue mats helped to reduce lower back pain during standing, particularly in individuals prone to this type of pain. Their findings suggested that this was likely caused by an increase in subtle movements.
There are many anti-fatigue mats on the market, but with so many available, how do you choose the best one for you? Here are a few simple tips:
1. Is it too thick or too thin?
One of the most important things to consider when buying an anti-fatigue mat is the thickness of the mat itself. A mat that is too thick will not provide adequate support and if it is too thin it will not prevent aches and pains.
2. Check the dimensions
Anti-fatigue mats come in different shapes and sizes. Make sure that you select one that suits your frame to give you maximum support. Also, check out the maximum weight capacity of your chosen mat to make sure that it is suitable.
3. Which material to select?
Anti-fatigue mats can be made out of a selection of different materials, each one having its advantages and disadvantages. Think about the type of material that will work best for you and your job. You will want to choose a material that is resilient and hard-wearing if you are using your mat on a daily basis.
4. Safety features
Check out the safety features of anti-fatigue mats to make sure that you stay safe at work. Many mats have an anti-slip feature to avoid accidents and bevelled edges to allow you to climb on and off the mat without tripping. You will need to make sure that your mat fits firmly to the floor and doesn’t slip around.
Check out our range of anti-fatigue mats here. At Flexispot we are committed to providing innovative accessories to meet the demanding needs of any active workplace.
