Don’t dismiss arthritis or fibromyalgia as possible reasons your feet hurt after sitting, even though you may have read that a likely cause is plantar fasciitis.
Here is what Bob Thompson, certified pedorthist, executive director of the Institute for Preventive Foot Health (IPFH.org), has to say about the cause of feet hurting after prolonged sitting:
“Another, less likely reason for pain in the feet after sitting for a while is arthritis or a connective tissue problem such as fibromyalgia.
“Both can cause you to feel pain when you put weight on joints that have been inactive for extended periods of time.”
A pedorthist is a medical professional who specializes in designing footwear and devices to alleviate foot discomfort.
The Effects of Obesity
In addition to the above causes, obesity can lead to painful feet when seated and after standing following prolonged sitting.
This is due to increased pressure, inflammation and conditions that can be caused or worsened by obesity such as plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel or sole) or swollen ankles.
Extra weight strains foot structures, leading to aching, tenderness and swelling, especially after inactivity when blood flow changes.
This added stress can damage tissues, weaken arches and contribute to structural problems.
How can this problem be prevented?
In addition to working on weight loss of you’re overweight, Thompson explains that you should “try to avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time, and/or move the feet and legs while seated to help stimulate circulation.”
Robert Thompson is a nationally recognized speaker on the topics of preventive foot health and soft tissue injury prevention.
