How to Prevent Foot Ills Such as Achilles Heel Pain in 3 Simple Ways
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
Avoiding foot pain from the start is the best way to avoid costly and painful surgical procedures down the road. Despite the fact that many people disregard foot pain for months, pretending that the pain isn’t serious or hoping it would resolve itself are inappropriate reactions to the foot pain dilemma. With few changes to the way feet are treated, pain can be a thing of the past. Here are a few reasons why metatarsalgia occurs, how to treat foot problems such as chronic Achilles tendonitis, and how minor changes, for instance using insoles for high heel shoes, can help.
Stretching Can Ease Foot Pain in More Than One Way
Achilles heel pain can really put a damper on anyone’s day. The shrinkage of this vital tendon can cause cramping in the lower leg. It can also be a major contributor to becoming so short that it eventually tears. The way to help the tendon relax and elongate in order to lessen pain is to administer gentle stretching to the affected part. Seated on the floor, your legs should be extended straight out in front of you. Then, slowly lean the upper body forward and the hamstring will begin to stretch out. Now that the legs are warmed up, softly coax the feet towards the head to focus the stretch onto your Achilles tendon. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, rest for one minute, and repeat 5 times.
Metatarsalgia Doesn’t Have to Be a Part of Your Life Anymore
In today’s world where fashion rules, lack of willingness to give up these types of shoes is regrettable. However, with the use of high heel insoles, metatarsalgia can be relieved with consistent wear. It is advisable to wear shoes with heels no higher than 2″ and with a wider-profile heel such as a wedge to avoid future metatarsalgia. If feet are sore at day’s end, consider adjusting to flat dress shoes for several days per week to allow the feet some rest from tight shoes which will help feet heal in between wearing higher heels. Be sure to massage and stretch to encourage optimal blood flow to the feet.
Why Some Shoes Can Be the Source of Metatarsalgia
High-heeled shoes can wreak havoc on feet when worn regularly. From the narrowing of the toe box (the part enclosing the front of the foot) to the angle of incline, this type of footwear can cause permanent damage to feet. First, when feet and toes are forced into a narrow shoe, as it does in a high heeled shoe, the mid-foot and toe areas are forced into an unnatural position. The tendons, muscles, and ligaments are strained into a tight area for what the foot needs. Over time, nerves become compressed, blood flow is lessened to areas of the foot (particularly in the toes) and painful foot issues develop.
Massage Can Aid Feet in More Than One Way
An ideal way of relieving tired and achy feet is to massage them. The mild movement of the muscle fibers brings vital blood to the affected areas. Massage also delivers healing, oxygen-rich blood into the whole foot. Once muscles are relaxed, aggravated nerves can begin to slow their firing and pain relief is achieved. If nerve endings and muscles are particularly irritated by a certain pair of shoes or an activity, swelling will be present. In that case, it is recommended to apply ice for 15 minutes at a time to relieve the swelling. Elevating the feet higher than the heart during this time is also very useful in allowing the surplus fluids to be drained from the foot.
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