Tired, Aching Feet: Methods for Foot Pain Relief
Aching feet is such a common condition that many people actually think it is part of their normal routine. At the end of the day, when people get home from work, they just dismiss the fact that their feet hurt, as if the pain is part of their daily routine. But the truth is, there is nothing normal about foot pain.
It is recommended for you to have a foot examination with a podiatrist, however there are some things you can do to find out what causes your pain so you can apply the necessary basic treatment to relieve your foot condition. First, you need to ask yourself the following questions:
What kind of foot pain am I feeling? Is it a dull, sharp, shooting, consistent, or intermittent pain? Remember, different foot problems exhibit different symptoms and degrees of pain.
What part of the foot and the leg hurts? Define the area where the pain occurs and know whether it is confined on a specific region or is diffused on a larger area. For example, the pain may spread out on the whole leg or simply be a foot arch pain.
How does the pain progress? Does it remain stable, or does it gradually get better or worse?
What factors affect the pain? For example, you may find that walking decreases the pain, or that exercising aggravates it.
Common Causes of Aching Feet
- Improper-Fitting Shoes: Some people suffer each day without realizing that it is their shoes that are the cause for their pain. Improper fit of shoes is said to be the most frequent reason for tired and aching feet. It is even more prevalent in women, because they wear high heels that can lead to many foot problems like ball-of-foot pain, or corns and callous.
- Strenuous Physical Activity: Overuse of the feet, especially in activities like walking, running, climbing, jogging and other physical activities, are also known as common causes for foot pain. We sometimes neglect the need to rest our feet and take regular breaks, only to experience as a result, great pain at the end of the day.
- Biomechanical Problems: One good example is over-pronation of the feet, which may prevent ligaments, tendons and muscles from functioning properly and thus may result in tired and aching feet. People with flat feet typically suffer from this condition, and are more prone to foot pain.
- Aging: As we age, our feet gradually widen and flatten. Aside from that, the natural thick pads on the soles become thin, while the skin of our feet dries up. foot pain is also prevalent in older people in the form of arthritis. Moreover, older people get tired more easily and are thus more prone to tired and aching feet.
- Foot Ailments: Various foot ailments such as plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, metatarsalgia, and Achilles tendonitis can cause different kinds of pain. For example, when you have plantar fasciitis or inflammation of the plantar fascia, a person will experience heel pain under and inside the heel, as this originates from the attachment of the fascia.
For those who are suffering from tarsal tunnel syndrome, they may feel tingling and burning sensation, as well as shooting pain inside the ankle or at the bottom of the foot. Metatarsalgia has a pain in the ball of foot while Achilles Tendonitis may exhibit shooting, burning and piercing pain.
Recommended Treatments for Aching and Tired Feet
- Wear orthotic insoles. These foot devices are effective in controlling over-pronation and in restoring natural functioning of the foot by re-aligning the foot structures. They also provide relief to foot pain by giving arch support and redistributing weight more evenly over the foot surface. Orthotics can improve conditions of heel pain, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, ball of foot pain, Achilles tendonitis, knee pain, and lower back pain.
- Wearing shoes that fit. This seems like a very obvious tip, however you will be surprised at the large number of people who overlook this and end up buying a pair of shoes that are do not fit well. It is not only necessary that you pick a shoe based on size, but you must also try them on to see if you feel comfortable wearing them.
Furthermore, it is best that you buy shoes late in the day, because your feet tend to swell and expand over the course of the day. Choose shoes that have rounded ends to give room to your toes. Stay away from pain culprits such as high heels and wear them only during special occasions. - Perform Foot Exercises. Stretching and exercising your feet will prepare them for strenuous walking or running that you may be doing for the day. Some foot exercises and stretching you can try are the following:
* Stand on your feet, put your hands on your waist (or hold on to a steady piece of furniture for support), and then slowly rise up and down as if tiptoeing. This activity is a good way of strengthening foot and leg muscles.
* Rest your feet on the floor and then move toes up and down or wiggle them. - Take regular breaks. Give your feet a chance to rest in between active periods, at least a few times within the day. This will enable them to recuperate and prevent exhaustion at the end of the day.
- Give yourself (and your feet) a treat. Go to the spa once in a while to have your feet massaged. Massage is not only a fun and relaxing way to alleviate pain, but it is also effective in improving blood circulation and loosening tired muscles.
When a person regularly experiences pain in their feet, it means that something is wrong. It could be that his shoes are the wrong fit or it could be something more serious like a foot problem such as plantar fasciitis or heel spur. Whatever it is that is bothering you, it is always a must to investigate and find out the culprit for that pain.
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