Your dogs barking after a long shift? It could be your boots.

By Robert Avsec

Firefighters are at elevated risk for overuse injuries to the feet and ankles. Such overuse injuries could be the result of flat feet, fallen arches or improperly fitting footwear (e.g., structural firefighting boots).

Firefighters are also subject to foot pain because of the amount of walking, running, and climbing they do regularly as part of their duties. What firefighter’s “dogs” (feet) haven't been “barking” (hurting) when they return to the fire station after spending several hours working in their structural firefighting boots.

A common cause of foot pain

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain and its source is the inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes (the plantar fascia).

Most plantar fasciitis sufferers experience a stabbing pain that usually occurs with their first steps in the morning. Once up and moving around, the pain normally decreases, but it might return after prolonged periods of standing, walking, running, or when standing up after sitting for a period.

Though an individual can develop plantar fasciitis without an obvious cause, there are some factors that can increase your risk of developing this condition including, but not limited to, the following:

• Age. Plantar fasciitis most commonly affects individuals between the ages of 40 and 60.
• Certain types of exercise. Activities that place a lot of stress on your heel and attached tissue (e.g., long-distance running or walking) can contribute to the onset of plantar fasciitis.
• Foot mechanics. If an individual has flat feet, a high arch, or even an abnormal pattern of walking it can affect the way weight is distributed when they’re standing and can put added stress on the plantar fascia.
• Obesity. Excess pounds put extra stress on your plantar fascia.
• Occupations that keep you on your feet. Factory workers, teachers and others who spend most of their work hours walking or standing on hard surfaces can damage the plantar fascia. Sounds like a firefighter walking around in their structural firefighting boots on an emergency scene or on concrete floors back at the fire station, no?

Preventing Plantar Fasciitis

First is taking note of those five previously mentioned causes and taking appropriate action where necessary. Here are four additional preventative actions that can help reduce the risk of developing plantar fasciitis:

• Research shows that both strengthening and stretching exercise programs, including stretching the Achilles tendon, can significantly reduce pain and improve walking in people with plantar fasciitis. Firefighters should use these strengthening and stretching exercises after physical training and after they’ve spent considerable time working in their structural firefighting boots.
• Wear the proper footwear and orthotics for your activities
• Learn the acronym R-I-C-E—Rest, Ice, Compression (using an elastic bandage wrap), and Elevation (of the affected area) to decrease inflammation of the plantar fascia.
• Visit a foot care specialist at the first sign of foot pain to get an evaluation to see what’s causing the pain (I did this after experiencing a couple of episodes of plantar fasciitis and learned that I needed fitted orthotics because my arches were flattening out because I was 52 years old—a common occurrence).

Good structural firefighting boots can make a difference

The introduction of leather structural firefighting boots, and hybrid boots using leather and aramid fabrics (e.g., Kevlar, Nomex, PBI blended fabrics), has made a significant difference in the comfort and wearability of those boots on emergency scenes. MSA’s Globe products has been on the forefront of this evolution in structural firefighting boots with its line of Athletic Footwear for Firefighters (because aren’t firefighters tactical athletes?).

MSA’s comprehensive line of Globe Athletic Footwear for Firefighters includes six models that give firefighters—both men and women ─ structural firefighting boot options that are not only comfortable and durable, but affordable as well.

• SUPRAFLEX 14”
• SUPRALITE 14”
• SUPREME 14” (A Firefighter’s Choice selection at TheFireStore)
• SHADOW XF 14”
• ONYX 13”
• STRUCTURAL 12”

All Globe structural firefighting boots are compliant with NFPA 1971 (Structural Fire Fighting) and NFPA 1992 (Liquid Splash).

The table below provides a quick features comparison between these six models in MSA’s line of Globe structural firefighting boots:

FEATURES	SUPRAFLEX 14”	SUPRALITE 14”	SUPREME 14”	SHADOW XF 14”	ONYX 13”	STRUCTURAL 12”
Women’s Sizes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Composite Puncture Barrier	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vibram Arctic Grip Option	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
High Visibility Trim	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Made In USA	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kevlar Blend Shield	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Outer Materials	Leather DRAGONHIDE fabric	Leather DRAGONHIDE fabric	Leather DRAGONHIDE fabric	Leather DRAGONHIDE fabric	Leather	Leather
Wide Calf Model in All Sizes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Vibram Toe Bumper	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Shin Protection	Foam padding	Padded composite shin guard	Padded composite shin guard	Padded composite shin guard	Padded composite shin guard	No
Vibram Contoured Cup Outsole	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GORE CROSSTECH Footwear Fabric	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pull On	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No (Lace up)
Height	14”	14”	14”	14”	13”	12”

All the great qualities, as described above, are available in sizes 5-12 and widths of Medium, Wide and Extra Wide.

Regardless of your choice of Globe structural firefighting boots, you can be assured that the boots you put on your feet are going to be good to your feet, no matter how much walking or climbing you must do on the emergency scene. As discussed earlier in this piece, having the proper footwear is a key factor in preventing plantar fasciitis. And it will keep your “dogs” from “barking!”