A huge percentage of people experience
foot problems during their lifetime. The feet are a complex part of the body. They
are made up of bones, ligaments, joints, muscles and tendons. They are also at
times subjected to a huge amount of pressure, so it’s hardly surprising when
some people experience terrible feet pain. This is a condition which threatens
to sideline a huge percentage of athletes and everyday walkers each year.
Here’re the things you can do to ease feet ache.
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Image Courtesy: Pixabay |
1. Choose Proper Shoes
Properly fitted shoes can help prevent
foot pain from sidelining you. Wear shoes with shock-absorbing, thick soles
that shield the feet from hard pavements and rough surfaces. Avoid wearing shoes
with soles that are worn out or thin.
Wearing high heels usually tightens the calf muscles which can lead to feet
ache. Try to change heel heights from high to low when possible. Sometimes,
your feet pitches forward while walking. Wearing a half-insole can help prevent
this discomfort. If a lot of running or jumping is involved, shoes with good
shock absorption are a must. Also, look for a pair that won’t allow extreme
rubbing along your foot’s sole.
2. Maintain a Healthy
Weight
Being overweight impacts your feet by putting
huge pressure on them with every step. Also, it can increase your risk of
developing conditions like arthritis in your feet and can worsen already existing
pain. In addition, being overweight can place you at a greater risk of poor
blood circulation or diabetes, which in turn would harm your overall foot
health, as these conditions often lead to loss of sensation in your feet and may
even trigger foot pain.
3. Use Orthotics
After Consulting Your Doctor
Orthotics, or arch supports, can keep
the feet stable while walking or standing, thus eliminating pain. If you live
an extremely athletic life where you are exposed to excessive running, or if
you suffer from obesity and have a sedentary lifestyle, or if you have a job
that requires you to stand for prolonged periods, etc., you may be prone to
foot pain. Such pain can be alleviated with the use of orthotics. Though you
can purchase them at a store, you should consult your doctor first and have
them custom-made if necessary. With the help of night splints, you may be able
to take care of your foot pain while you’re asleep.
4. Don’t Neglect
Stretches, Especially the Post-workout Ones
People may not generally think about
stretching when it comes to eliminating foot pain. But stretching the top and
bottom of your feet can help prevent as well as treat foot pain. To relieve
stiffness and pain, you can stretch the feet out in front of you. You can also
roll your feet over a bottle of frozen water to get relief from foot pain.
If you’ve addressed the probable cause
of your foot pain and have followed the above steps but are still suffering from
pain, you should consult a doctor without any further delay. While your foot
should be on the mend as you start following the above tips, there may be some
underlying conditions that need further evaluation from a specialist, especially
when the pain persists.
