Anti-Fatigue Mats

[zmotorsports]

I have been hobbling around the last week plus and the wife seems to think I have Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot. I am too stubborn nor want to take the time to go to the doctor and have him stick his needle in and pull my money out only to tell me that "hey, you have Plantar Fasciitis". I have read about it and the best thing they say to do is ice it and stay off feet until the muscle/tissue heals. That is not an option, I simply cannot stay off of my feet until it heals, but the pain is horrible. I haven't been wrenching @ work much in the past couple of years and don't even have a work stall any longer. I wrench, weld, fabricate, machine in my home shop for anywhere from 3-6 hours a night and most all weekends if not out of town so I am on my feet alot. I know there are places that they are not feasible such as under my two-post lift and in the welding area but there are areas in front of lathe, mill and work benches that they would be beneficial other than the cleaning drawback.

I haven't put them in my home shop due to the fact that they are a pain in the you know what to sweep around. My question is how many of you guys use these around your machines and do you like them? I know many companies have a mandatory policy about these things but ours is not one at the moment. Some mechanics have them and some don't so I have been reluctant to put them in my home shop only because of the fact that I am anal about cleanliness in my shop and the floors get cleaned EVERY night before closing up, however, I have never had any foot or back problems. I am not getting any younger and if they really do help that much I will put some in but I would like to hear everyone elses' opinions/feedback on whether you like them or not.

Thanks.

 

[royesses]

I have some harbor freight mats as a test. They are not the best, however they do help a lot. The high cost mats would most likely be better, but for me the hf mats are good enough.
Roy

 

[Cami]

I like them when working at a work station where I don't move around but find them to be a tripping hazard around throughways. I'm not sure if this is an anti fatigue mat problem or a foot dragging/shuffling problem.

BTW: Anti fatigue flooring has been around a while. I saw a Royal Mail railway car in a museum(can't remember the vintage) with a floor made of canvas over kapok fibre for the sake of workers sorting mail while en route.

 

[JimDawson]

I bought rubber horse stall mats. They are an inch thick, and 4x6 foot. $35 at my local feed store. Not quite as squishy as the commercial anti-fatigue mats, but it beats the heck out of standing on concrete, and they are really tough. Seem to be impervious to oil and grease. I've had mine for about 7 years, and they show no wear.

 

[drs23]

After talking to folks and visiting a few shops I copied what they were doing and recommended. I made "spring mats" (TM) out of 1 X 4s. Their reasoning to go this way was two fold. Firstly all said the foam mats, no matter how much you pay for it, is a PIA to clean (the mat as well as around it). Secondly, because of it's nature chips would stick to it while hot then cool and end up in boot soles to be carried to vehicle floors before being deposited at the homestead. After pricing the commercial grade fatigue mats it was a NO BRAINER. It cost me less than $35 to make them for my mill and lathe. Cleanup is a snap. Shop vac first, stand on edge against the machine, vacuum what's left. Done.

Finished and installed:

 

[Round in circles]

Mike, the anti fatigue mats are OK if you do a lot of standing on a cold concrete floor .

But they don't stop you nipping nerves in you spine , which also affect your legs and feet when your hunched over a hot smoking lathe for a couple of hours each night .

f you don't have any kidney or liver problems & you're not on any medication that precludes the use of a commercially available anti inflammatory cream I'd also go and get a couple of tubes. Then get your lass to slather your back every night and morning from the level of your ears down to top of the crack of your butt and again down the back of your legs , with a max of one splat ....no bigger than 1.2 inches in dia & @ 12 hours apart. for four or so days . Don't extend the use of it past four days without a few days rest as it can affect your kidneys & liver . You'll also need to drink plenty of water to keep your kidneys and liver flushed out of the toxins the cream releases from tight muscles etc.


I've suffered & still suffer from no end of muscle spasms each day ( for 21 years now) because of skeletal injuries ,. Having spent a small fortune on chiropractors , osteopaths and surgeons as well as loads of sessions of full on Chinese acupuncture , I went the non prescribed anti inflammatory route for many years whenever the limp & dragging foot started up .

The latest MRI scan , had it two weeks ago , might show a small spinal stenosis up that could now be the main cause of an increase in my problem.

 

[zmotorsports]

Well I am not a Harbor Freight fan but I just ran on my lunch hour to my local HF branch and picked up two packages of them to try. They were $9.99/each so I figured I would give them a try over the weekend and see if I can tell a difference. Still not thrilled about the cleanup issue though, but at least maybe I will still be able to walk come Monday morning.:thinking:

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, suggestions and input. I really appreciate it.

 

[epanzella]

I can also recommend a wood anti-fatigue mat. I made mine out of 1/4 inch threaded and some 1x2 furring with 3/4 inch spaces between them. Hot chips fall right thru instead melting their way into the soles of my shoes. For cleanup just pick it up and sweep the chips left behind. For brillo type swarf I sweep it with a magnet.

 

[samthedog]

If you have knee injuries the anti fatigue mats can be more pain than anything else. I injured my knee in a car accident and can't stand on them, in fact I can't even use squishy soled shoes like Nikes etc...

Paul.

 

[commercialbuilder]

I was able to get a tool of rubber flooring left over from a job and it made a lot of difference to me.
I had the same problem with my foot and the only thing that helped it was to get fitted by a podiatrist for inserts. Once they were made I put them in my shoes and within a couple of days my feet did not hurt any more. That was 8 years ago and I still use them but I can go a couple of months without them now. The doc said they would last 20+ years and I beleive they will.
good luck
Mike