If you have chronic feet and back problems and it seems like you’ve done everything there is to do about it, you’re probably missing one important thing: your floors. There is a really good chance if you haven’t replaced the flooring in your home or office anytime recently that it is having a harmful effect on your back and feet, leading to an exponentially worse problem. While replacing the flooring might seem like an extreme action just to relieve some foot and back issues, as anyone who has experienced the shooting pain these (and worse) issues can lead to, anything to stop or lessen the pain is worth it. It is something that we here at Ozburn-Hessey believe strongly in, which is why we’ve put together this guide about what flooring options are the best for your feet and back problems.
Comforting Carpet
This might come as a bit of a shock, but carpeting is a lot better for your feet than just about any other surface widely available. A recent study done in Sweden about the ways different flooring options affect workers’ feet found that carpet is the easiest on the foot bones, due to the way it cushions the foot and helps spread the shock absorption around. The downside to this news is that carpet isn’t always feasible in every room. After all, who would want a carpeted kitchen? Luckily the principles are the same, so having a particularly cushioned rug near the sink or anywhere else you tend to stand for a long period of time will help cut down on the amount of stress your feet and back receive in those rooms.
The Best of the Rest
While carpeting may be the best option, it doesn’t mean that you are stuck with a carpeted life. There are other options, that while not the best, will help cut down on things that lead to pain.
When it comes to most hardwoods, for instance, the popular belief is that they are a bad, rotten, no-good option for your feet. This is true for old-school wood flooring, so say goodbye to any dreams you had of a restored floor in your living room, but most new wood flooring options are going to be fine if you take some preventive steps, like wearing indoor shoes or placing a lot of rugs around. When selecting a nice rug, make sure it is one with a lot of underlay support. Another option that many probably have not thought of – one that is not only good for your health but for the world as well – is cork. It makes a lot of sense, once you think about it; after all, cork is well-known for its cushy nature and natural absorbing properties. Cork also comes as a principal floor covering, or as underlay, so it still leaves you with plenty of design options.
If you’ve been having a lot of feet problems, you really should consider getting a new floor, either at home or in your office. It is something that the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey can help you with, and would be glad to do. All you need to do is make the phone call.