Trade show staffing is physically hard on everybody, but it is especially hard on the "senior" management—many of whom must make an appearance in the booth for at least part of any show. It is a reality of getting older; our ability to withstand the demands that an exhibit gig make on us decreases as we age. All the tissues in our bodies, including ligaments and tendons, lose their elasticity. This decreases their shock absorbency and increases their susceptibility to tearing. Older people lose the fat pads on the bottoms of their feet, losing more shock absorbency. Also, as annoying as it is, our range of motion decreases when we are older. Stiffness in joints or the presence of arthritis causes more shock to be transmitted up the leg, knee and back because the foot joint doesn't move properly to absorb the shock
Stance is the most influential thing affecting foot pain. When a person is standing, the feet are coping with two forces: one from the heel-to-ground contact and one from the person's weight. The feet and legs are under unrelenting gravity pressure, causing localized pressure points in the heels and the balls of the feet. This pressure can lead to stretching and straining of the plantar fascia, leading to plantar fascitis, which is a steady, throbbing pain in the heel.
If a person over pronates—that is, they "roll" the feet towards the inside so the sole bears most of the body weight—they make unbalanced contact with the ground. This causes them to make adjustment in the positioning of knees, hips, pelvic region, and back to align the body enough to walk.
Standing for long periods of time causes a decrease in the blood supply to the lower extremities and therefore increases fatigue and soreness in the muscles. Also, prolonged standing creates an accumulation of blood in certain areas of the feet and legs, which leads to irritated or inflamed veins.
People who aren't as young as they once were need to pay attention to their feet and legs when working a trade show exhibit. Here are stretching exercises that can be done in the morning, on break, and in the evening that will keep muscles and ligaments warmed up and prepared to handle the physical stress of the show.
• Roll an ordinary 12-ounce can (or PVC pipe of the same size) under the arch of each foot for five minutes each. This will help stretch the plantar fascia.
• Pick up a towel off the ground with your toes, 30 times per foot. This stretches forefoot muscles, plantar muscles, and tendons in the feet.
• Stretch the calf muscles by leaning against a wall with one knee bent and the other leg straight out behind you with both feet flat on the floor.
Elevating and icing both feet for an hour after you leave the show floor will decrease swelling and help rejuvenate the feet for the following day.
Be sure to have the right kind of shoes with good arch supports and rubber soles. If over-pronation or low/no arches are a problem, use insoles that incorporate arch supports to assist your feet in coping with the day. Use specialty support hose or socks (available for men and women) to help your leg muscles and circulatory system.
Finally, don't be a Type A about the show. All booth staff will need to take breaks in order to rest feet and legs. They should also avoid remaining stationary for long periods of time by making a point of moving around, walking, and stretching. This is especially important for the older members of the team.
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