Introduction
The foot is that part of the body on which people have to rely for their survival. The feet are exposed to excessive wear and tear every day when walking, exercising, or standing for long stretches of time. So taking proper care of the foot is excessively important. Having a tired or sore foot is not uncommon. There might be numerous underlying reasons for foot aches, starting from having foot bunions and sunburned feet to wearing fashionable but uncomfortable shoes all day. Just as there are numerous reasons behind foot ache, there are numerous remedies to rely on it too.
What Are Some Common and Effective Remedies for Sore Feet?
There are plenty of tried and tested remedies for sore feet. Some are :
-
A Warm Foot Bath - A warm foot bath can prove to be the best solution for sore feet. Epsom salts help to a great extent in relieving sore muscles. Therefore, all it is necessary to do is add some Epsom salt to the foot bath, and the swelling will quickly go away. There might be other options, like adding baking soda in warm water, but nothing works like Epsom salt. One cup of Epsom salt is enough for a tub of warm water. Soaking feet in this warm water for the next twenty minutes brings relief from the pain.
-
Stretches - Stretching exercises help a great deal when it comes to sore feet. First, one has to notice which area of their feet is in pain; stretching that part of the feet might bring about some relief. One can also get engaged in several stretches to target the entire foot. There are multiple exercises that can be helpful at this time by preventing cramping and promoting flexibility. If the pain is in the toes, one has to flex their toes and point them before curling them for some seconds. Repeating this toe exercise ten times a day will bring relief. One can also warm up their feet by sitting down and extending their legs. The toes need to be moved around and pointed towards the body and away from it before moving their ankles in a circle in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions.
-
Practicing Strengthening Exercises - One can avoid foot pain only when their feet are flexible and strong. The best exercise of all time is walking. Walking keeps the feet healthy. Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle is always recommended. There are certain strengthening exercises that can be tried, like Achilles stretching with the help of a wall or picking up marbles using their toes.
-
Wearing Compression Socks or Stockings - Compression gears are very helpful in circulating the blood out of the feet and preventing swelling in the lower legs and ankles. This makes the sore feet feel supported and reduces the throbbing, sharp pain. One should only wear the type of compression socks that feel comfortable. Also, it is a must to check if they feel any irritation or bruising on wearing the socks because that would mean the socks is very tight.
-
Touch Therapy - This is a kind of therapy where oil or lotion is applied to the soles of the feet. After which, the feet need to be massaged and pressed gently, especially around the sore areas. The main focus should be given to the plantar fascia, which is basically a cord-like band running along the length of the arch right from the ball of the foot to the heel. One can also try using a foot roller or even look for a good foot spa for proper foot massaging.
-
Acupuncture - This is a traditional Chinese medicinal method of reducing pain from sore feet. Studies have shown that acupuncture indeed can be helpful in treating many kinds of foot pain that are associated with the ankle, heel, and ball of the foot.
-
Night Splints - Foot pain generally increases during the night while we are sleeping. Wearing night splints would help in keeping the feet in a locked position the whole night so that individuals do not sleep with their feet pointing, which would have caused pain. Night splints are also cost-effective and a very useful way to treat plantar fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is a condition affecting almost one million people every year.
-
Using Topical Pain Relieving Medications - The application of topical medicines also helps with foot pain. There are some topical medicines available that have proven to provide cooling and pain-relieving sensations. Some of the products include ingredients like menthol, eucalyptus, and turpentine.
-
Applying Ice to Feet - Applying ice to feet helps in the reduction of inflammation and soreness. It is a very process where ice has to be put on the sore feet by filling the ice in a plastic bag or a water bottle. The frozen water bottle can then be used for rolling on the feet. If ice is put on the affected area for five to 15 minutes daily, inflammation can be reduced to zero.
-
Buying Arch Supports - Individuals can get themselves arch supports or orthotics to keep their feet stable while they are standing or even walking. This helps in the elimination of the pain completely. These arch supports have proved to reduce pain and improve foot functioning.
Conclusion:
Before trying any remedies, one needs to visit a podiatrist to see if there is any serious condition. Individuals should never forget to consult their doctor if they have flu-like symptoms in combination with foot pain, swollen or severe pain in feet, tingling sensation or numbness on the bottom of their feet, have an open infected wound, broken bone in their foot, have swelling in feet for more than a few days or if the pain does not reduce for weeks even after trying home remedies. It is necessary for diabetic people to consult a doctor before trying any home remedies since they are prone to having diseases related to the foot. It is necessary to remember that besides trying all the above remedies, one needs to give feet proper rest because only then would the remedies provide fruitful results.
