Anti-fatigue mats in the shop.

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Kallen

Kallen

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Aug 19, 2007
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Dallas, Texas
How many here have anti-fatigue rubber mats where they're working?
We have them, but I find that my legs and knees lately are always aching.

Just curious if people experience the same.
 
I couldn't be without them, use them everywhere, around all the design and fitting tables, anywhere I'll be standing for more than a couple of minutes.
 
Crocs, it like you are wearing your own personal, anti-fatigue mats.

Seriously, before Crocs, my legs/knees used to ache so much after a day on hard floors I could hardly move at the end of the day. The last 4 months in crocs and it is 80 -90% better for me anyhow.

I do have my entire back room fitted with anti-fatigue mats, the kind that fit together like puzzle pcs. I think they are 2' x 2' and bought them by the pack of 8 pcs at Sam's for less than $20.
 
I'm a shoe queen

Yep, sensible shoes do it for me. I have some inexpensive anti-fatigue mats as well.
I am lucky in my shop that it has linoleum-tile over a wood subfloor. Much less stress than tile over cement.
But some days my knees just plain ache. But my short (2.2 mile) bike ride home complete cures that... like magic.

edie the worksforme goddess
 
One thing I found was the mats added about 1/2" to the height of the floor. Then I went and got good quality running shoes. These added another 3/4" to my height. So these two things together made the work table seem that much lower, and my lower back tells me it's all a little off.
 
My legs and knees never hurt so much as when I had those rubber mats. My orthopedic surgeon explained that because of the walking back and forth, unless you completely pick up your feet every time you turn, the top of the leg will turn around before the lower leg does, causing twisting at the knee.

I'm facing knee replacement soon, and my Crocs are helping ease the pain immensly.....like someone said, my own personal fatigue mats on my feet, and no knee twisting.

Good shoes are the answer, in my opinion/experience.
 
If you do get them, be sure to get ones that have angled edges that don't present a tripping hazard (like while you are carrying a large lite of glass). BTW, the mat ia a nice surface on which to rest a big lite of glass while re-gripping it, or turning it around to "score opposite side".
:cool: Rick
 
Anti fatigue mats are very damaging to the ankles if you are also wearing Crocs or any other blown foam walking or running shoe... I don't care what the price.

I recently did some extensive interviewing of surgeons, physical therapists, and specialized sports internists.... all couldn't stress hard enough to get rid of any anti fatigue mats.
The mats were designed to be used by people in hard soled street shoes or work boots.... the give of the mats and the foam soled shoes micro wear the tenons and joints in the ankles and knees.. even JBCJ won't help that.
 
After 17 years of standing up in a frame shop My ankles hurt no matter what. That being said My eccos are the best purchase I ever made. Once my first pair was broken in (I never trust a shoe that is perfectly comfortable when I buy them) they made a huge diference in my daily comfort level. On top of the comfort level, they lasted forever. I wore my ecco Tracks for 6 years striaght before the sole started failing on me(thou I still use em for yard work). On my second pair now and am looking forward to buying my 3rd 2 or 3 years from now. Only wish they looked ok in shorts.
 
I spent some serious money years ago for some top of the line anti fatigue mats, well worth every penny, they do make a difference.

John
 
It sounds like some of these problems might be caused by mats that are too thick. You could just get a heavy-duty doormat, the kind that has indoor-outdoor carpeting surrounded by a tapered black rubber edge and with non-skid backing. That would not bee too thick, but would still provide some relief from a hard floor.
:cool: Rick
 
When it comes to your feet - DON'T BE CHEAP ! ! !
Buy something that fits properly, that you can wear all day in total comfort. Your ankles, knees, hips & lower back will thank you (especially as we get older) - Fashionable shoes just won't cut it :shutup::shutup:
Also, keep a "butt high" stool handy at your work area just to take the load off occasionally - sit down to drink your coffee. Do your customers seat themselves at your design counter? Sit yourself down as well - that way you're not talking "down" to them - plus the up & down activity you get during the design stage is also good exercise.
Some of the very best anti-fatigue mats we have ever used we purchased from "Quality Farm & Fleet" or "Tractor Supply" or "Agway" - - - What were they? 4x8 horse stall mats. They'll support even the "heftiest" framers (sorry). I would cut them down (if needed) with a circular saw - it's a pretty tough hard rubber. Also, you could set a stool on them and the stool wouldn't "wobble" like on some of those expensive "human" anti-fatigue mats. We also used these in our photo lab since they were resistant to chemicals & easy to clean.
 
McPhoto said:
Also, you could set a stool on them ....
Click to expand...

Isn't THAT why they were sold at Agway in the first place!

Why hasn't Dermot chimed in on this topic? While what Baer says intrigues me, I wonder what Dermot has to say about the issue. I'd like to put down an antifatigue mat, but then I am also using the mat table for mat storage nd every 1/2 inch is precious!
 
brian..k said:
After 17 years of standing up in a frame shop My ankles hurt no matter what. That being said My eccos are the best purchase I ever made. Once my first pair was broken in (I never trust a shoe that is perfectly comfortable when I buy them) they made a huge diference in my daily comfort level. On top of the comfort level, they lasted forever. I wore my ecco Tracks for 6 years striaght before the sole started failing on me(thou I still use em for yard work). On my second pair now and am looking forward to buying my 3rd 2 or 3 years from now. Only wish they looked ok in shorts.
Click to expand...

I've wondered about Ecco shoes. I'll have a look, and maybe grab a pair.
If it's not my legs, knees, or feet, it's my lower back, from leaning forward while working on a large frame. You lift it, turn it, flip it... Work tables on a slight incline might be interesting to try.
 
Ahhhh, lower back, you say...

...your counters might be too low.

I am barely 5'6" and for many years I worked at a counter 35". Then I moved to a new space that happened to have a counter in place that was 41". It was immediately apparent that this was a more ideal height. All of us here fight over that counter.
I always win. :p

I had my handy dad add a shelf to my other counter so that it was higher. I used the 4" space underneath to store fabric on tubes.

Also, please permit me to recommend abdominal exercises. Your abdominals go a long way in lending support to your lower back. This information courtesy of my chiropractor.

edie timetodosomecrunches goddess
 
I am 5' 5" and have always worked at a 41.5" high table. I find it perfect. No bending, no fatigue. It's especially nice with close-up, delicate work. It has worked out nicely, even though the original reason I built them that height was to provide storage for 32 x 40 matboard below in divided sections above a platform resting on a frame of 2x4s. I also have built-in supply drawers and roll holders for paper and wire.
:cool: Rick
 
Val said:
I'm facing knee replacement soon, and my Crocs are helping ease the pain immensly.....
Click to expand...

Gee Val, we should book the surgery and have it done together! I keep putting it off. More shots, more Crocs.:smiley:

Now about the mats, yes we have had them for years. They line the floor around the upstairs custom work tables, are in front of various machines, etc. We have carpet over cement in the fron troom. Terrible floor. We don't use mats out there because people coould trip over them I never knew that they could adversly affect the knees.
 
we put horse stall mats over the entire work rooms floors...they are thick, solid and almost no give, which is ideal..you do have to wear good shoes..we prefer New Balance 811's..the horse stall mats can be purchased at farm & ranch stores..they are heavy and come 4x6 and 4x8, cut with a circular saw to fit. also cuts down on a lot of noise as the equipment is cushioned. just my 2.5 cents worth. The front end is inustrial carpet over a thin pad on concrete which works well for the design and display areas.
 
Sorry that I did not pick up on this thread earlier, I was away for a few days attending the National Safety awards convention in Killarney, Ireland.

As some of you might know I’m the distributor in Ireland for one of the leading if not the leading manufacture of Ergonomic, Anti-Fatigue and Safety matting in the world.

The simple answer is that Anti-Fatigue mats do work, there have been a number of scientific studies carried out at a number of universities around the world, which have proved conclusively in favour of using Anti-fatigue mats.

There is no scientific evidence what so ever that the usage of Anti-Fatigue mats and Fatigue/Safety type shoes been used together have and any advantage or disadvantage over using the mats and the shoes on their own.

I would strongly suggest that you engage with one of the reputable Anti-Fatigue matting companies to get the best matting for your application, there are many options for mats and local conditions will determine what mat may suit your requirement best.

I won’t engage on this forum about Anti-fatigue mats as it is of commercial interest to me but if anyone need advice feel free to drop me an email at info@luanireland.com
 
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