How to Prevent Feet Swelling While Sitting at Desk? [Ultimate Guide & 5 Tips]

Are you one of those people who suffer from swollen feet while sitting at your desk?

Then you should care about it because it can be very dangerous because it can damage your leg and feet tissues permanently.

In this article, I’ll discuss how to prevent feet swelling while sitting at desk and provide you with 5 tips to prevent feet and calves swelling.

So, let’s dig in!


Key Takeaway

  • To prevent feet swelling while sitting at a desk take regular breaks to walk around, avoid crossing your legs, and place something soft under your feet while sitting.
  • Furthermore, try to keep your feet elevated from the floor and often massage your feet.

How to Prevent Feet Swelling While Sitting at Desk?

To prevent feet swelling while sitting at a desk, wear comfortable shoes. Shoes that are too tight or have high heels can contribute to swollen feet.

Secondly, take breaks, get up, and move around every few hours to keep your blood flowing. Taking a brief walk or doing some simple stretches can help reduce foot swelling.

Lastly, elevate your feet. If possible, prop your feet up on a stool or box while you’re sitting at your desk.

5 Tips on How to Prevent Feet Swelling While Sitting at Desk

Feet swelling is considered a common and harmless condition, but it can be uncomfortable, and painful, and can damage your leg and feet tissues. 

There are a few things you can do to prevent your feet from swelling while you’re sitting at your best desk.

1. Keep Your Feet Elevated

Your feet can swell if they are placed on the ground for a long period because when you’re sitting, your feet are in a position where gravity is working against them. 

Blood clots and other fluids tend to pool in your feet and ankles, and over time, this can lead to swelling.

To elevate your feet put a footrest under your desk, or wear shoes with a slight heel.

An image showing Keeping Your Feet Elevated
Keeping Your Feet Elevated

2. Avoid Uncomfortable Feet Posture

When you are sitting at a desk, it is important to have a comfortable feet posture to prevent feet swelling. 

Here are a few tips to do it:

  • Keep your feet flat on the floor if you’re not complying with leg elevation.
  • Make sure your chair is at the correct height so that your feet are not hanging down.
  • Avoid crossing your legs, it’ll cause you leg pain as well.
An image showing Perfect Feet Posture
Perfect Feet Posture

3. Use a mat Under Your Feet

Sitting at your desk for long periods of time can make your feet swell and become uncomfortable. 

To prevent this from happening, use a mat under your feet. The mat will provide support and distribute the weight evenly to prevent your feet from swelling.

4. Stretch & Massage Your Feet Before & After Sitting

Stretching and massaging your feet often can help you to prevent swollen feet.

Here are a few feet massaging techniques that you can perform:

  1. Start by sitting in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Then, point your toes and flex your feet back toward your body as far as you can. Hold this position for 10 seconds, then relax. Repeat this stretch several times.
  2. Rub your thumbs along the bottoms of your feet. Then, use your fingers to massage the tops and sides of your feet. Finish by rubbing your palms along the length of your feet.
An image showing Massaging Your Feet
Massaging Your Feet

5. Take Frequent Breaks & Move on Your Feet

The human body is not made to sit for long periods at a desk

If you have to sit for long periods of time, take frequent breaks and move on your feet to prevent feet swelling. 

For every 30 minutes you sit, stand up, and walk around for at least 2 minutes. This will help improve circulation and prevent foot swelling.

What Does it Mean When Your Feet and Ankles are Swollen?

Most often, swollen feet and swollen ankles are the results of fluid retention, also known as edema. 

It can happen when your body’s lymphatic system, which is responsible for draining excess fluid from your tissues, isn’t working properly. 

Other causes of fluid retention include sitting or standing for long periods, being overweight, eating a high-sodium diet, and taking certain medications.

If your feet and ankles are swollen, you may notice that 

  • Your shoes feel tighter than usual or you have difficulty fitting into your favorite pair of jeans. 
  • It may be difficult to walk or even stand.
An infographic showing Tips to Prevent Feet Swelling
Tips to Prevent Feet Swelling

Different Ways to Keep Feet Healthy and Comfortable

There are many different ways to keep feet healthy and comfortable. Some people may choose to wear supportive shoes, while others may opt for comfortable socks or insoles. 

Here are a few different ways to keep your feet healthy and comfortable:

Wear Comfortable Shoes While Walking

When you walk, you put a lot of pressure on your feet. Over time, this can lead to problems such as pain in the palms of your feet, heel pain, or arch pain. 

Wearing comfortable shoes can help prevent these problems.

There are a few things to look for when choosing shoes for walking.

  • Make sure they have good arch support.
  • Look for shoes with cushioned soles.
  • Shoes are comfortable, you should be able to walk in them for long periods of time without any pain.

Wash Feet Regularly & Keep Them Dry

It is important to wash your feet regularly and keep them dry to prevent foot problems. 

Foot problems can be caused by bacteria and fungi that grow on the skin. These problems can be painful and can make it difficult to walk or stand.

Washing your feet with soap and water will help remove dirt and debris. Be sure to wash between your toes. 

Before washing your feet with soap, confirm that you don’t have any cuts on your feet.

To keep your feet dry use an antifungal foot powder.

Do Feet Exercises

Just like any other part of our body, our feet need exercise to stay healthy and comfortable.

There are a variety of different exercises that you can do to keep your feet healthy and comfortable. Here are a few examples:

  1. Toe raises: This exercise helps to strengthen the muscles in your feet and toes. To do this exercise, simply stand on a step or other raised surface. Slowly raise your toes up as high as you can, then lower them back down. Repeat this 10-15 times.
  2. Heel raises: This exercise helps to stretch and strengthen the Achilles tendon and the muscles in the back of your leg. To do this exercise, stand with your feet flat on the ground. Slowly raise your heels up as high as you can, then lower them back down. Repeat this 10-15 times.
  3. Toe curls: To do this exercise, sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Place a small towel under your feet. Use your toes to curl the towel up as you lift your feet off the ground.

Trim Toenails

Your toenails play an important role in the health of your feet. They protect your toes from injury and help keep your feet comfortable. 

It is important to trim your toenails regularly to keep them healthy and comfortable.

Here are some tips for trimming your toenails:

  1. Cut your toenails straight across. This will help prevent ingrown toenails.
  2. Use a nail file to smooth the edges of your nails.
  3. Don’t cut your toenails too short. This can lead to pain and discomfort.
  4. If you have toenail fungus, see a podiatrist to get it treated before trimming your nails.

Inspect for Athlete’s Foot

An athlete’s foot is a common condition that can cause a lot of discomfort. 

It is important to inspect your feet regularly for signs of athlete’s foot so you can treat it early and avoid any further discomfort.

If you think you have an athlete’s foot, it is important to see a doctor so you can get the proper treatment.

To prevent athlete’s foot 

  • Keep your feet clean and dry. 
  • Wear flip-flops in public showers and locker rooms.
  • Wear socks made from natural fibers, such as cotton, to wick away moisture.

FAQs

Can my Office Chair Cause my Feet to Swell?

No, an office chair isn’t likely to be the direct cause of swollen feet but make sure to position the desk and chair in a comfortable position.

Do I Need any Foot Support Equipment to Prevent Feet Swelling?

It’s not 100% necessary to have foot support equipment to prevent foot swelling, but it might be essential if you’re having severe pain.

What are Some Ankle Circles Exercises I Can do to Prevent Leg Discomfort?

There are a few ankle circle exercises you can do to prevent leg discomfort.
For example, you can try doing ankle circles while lying down. Start by lying on your back with your legs straight. Place your hands on your lower stomach. 
Slowly lift your right leg off the ground and make small circles with your ankle. 
Do 10-15 circles in one direction and then switch directions.
You can also try this exercise standing up. 
Place your hand on a wall or chair for balance. Lift your right leg off the ground and make small circles with your ankle. Do 10-15 circles in one direction and then switch directions. 
Repeat with your left leg.

Will Wearing Compression Socks Help Reduce Swelling in my Feet?

Yes, wearing compression socks can help reduce swelling in your feet by applying pressure and improving blood flow.

Why Does Sitting Cause my Feet to Swell?

When you sit for long periods, your feet and ankles can swell from the pooling of blood in your lower extremities.
And, you can invest in a standing desk which will make your feet more comfortable. Especially, a standing desk is a good investment for students.

Conclusion

Many people ignore their swollen feet, but it could be very harmful. And in the worst cases, it can cause your feet and leg muscles to damage.

That’s why it’s important to keep your feet safe from swelling.

In this article, I’ve discussed how to prevent feet swelling while sitting at desk and 5 tips to avoid feet swelling.

So, which tips are you going to follow to prevent feet swelling? Let us know in the comments.

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