Why does standing at a stall wear me out so much?
Because your body is built to move, and a stall asks it to stay still. You may run a yong tau foo stall near the Pasir Pinji wet market, a noodle stall or a kopitiam kitchen. Either way you stand on hard floors, bend to the stove and reach across the counter.
Add the heat from the wok and a day of long hours, and the legs, feet and lower back all carry the load. It is no surprise that you feel it by closing time.
What does this kind of pain feel like?
It starts as heavy, tired legs and burning feet. Later the lower back tightens and the calves cramp at night.
These are the common patterns.
- Aching or burning on the soles by the afternoon.
- Heel pain in the first steps after waking.
- Tight calves, sometimes with night cramps.
- A stiff lower back when you straighten after bending.
- Knees that ache after a long shift.
Most of this settles with changes to how you stand, what you stand on and how you rest. Pain that does not improve in a few weeks should be assessed.
What can I change at the stall today?
Start at your feet. Wear closed shoes with a good grip, and avoid flat, worn sandals on a wet floor.
If you can, put a rubber mat where you stand longest. Place a low box or step under one foot and swap feet now and then, which takes load off the back.
Keep items you reach for most within an arm’s length. Turn your feet toward the task instead of twisting your back, and raise the chopping board if you are bending over it.
How can I reset my body at closing time?
Give yourself five minutes before you go home. Lie on your back with your legs up the wall, or on a chair, for two minutes to help the blood flow back from your legs.
Then stretch the calves against a wall for half a minute each side, and roll a bottle under each foot. Finish with a few slow forward and backward bends of the back, only as far as is comfortable. Drink water, because the heat of a kitchen dries you out.
For cramps in hot weather, see our guide on hydration and cramps in a hot climate.
When is it more than tired legs?
See a doctor if one leg is swollen, red and sore, or if you have chest pain or sudden breathlessness. Seek care too if the back pain comes with numbness around the groin or weak legs. Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun and the private hospitals in Ipoh have emergency departments.
For ongoing heel pain, read about plantar fasciitis. If your arches have dropped, flat feet explains what can help, and back pain covers the lower back.
Can I get help without closing the stall?
Yes. A home visit can be set for a quiet afternoon or after closing, so you do not lose a trading day. We look at how you stand and move at work, then give you short exercises for the feet, hips and back.
Our home physiotherapy page shows how a visit works, and our Canning Garden centre is opening soon. Prices are quoted on WhatsApp.