We all have our own battles to fight every day; we must go to work and accomplish tasks no matter how they are. Most of the time, we spend the whole day standing and running around places. When this happens, we end up feeling tired and with a terrible foot ache. Pain from a day of standing can be tolerable. However, constant practice of going around or standing all day may leave us with more difficult repercussions. If we cannot lessen the time we spend standing all day, we should at least know how to soothe and ease the foot pain we get from it.
Effective Ways to Ease Foot Pain
There is no need to put up with unbearable pain that can be relieved. Here are the best ways to soothe and stop foot aches caused by standing all day.
Elevate Your Legs
People are advised to elevate their legs after spending a day standing because it causes pressure relief, reduces inflammation, and facilitates better blood flow. If we elevate the legs, the veins will not have to receive too much pressure and will not have a hard time going against gravity. For this to be effective, you must ensure that you are going to do it correctly.
You start by raising your legs at a 45-degree angle above heart level with knees a bit bent and a cushion to support them. Support needs to be placed under your neck, head, and legs to prevent strain. You can also opt to raise your feet against the wall while having a pillow support your head. These must be done only for 5 to 15 minutes at least three times within the day. Prolonged elevation may cause discomfort on your spine, hips, and legs.
Stretch Properly
If you feel uncomfortable tension on your ankles and feet, you can try rotating them in a circular motion. You can also stretch and release your thigh and calf muscles as you do this. It helps to stretch the legs regularly as muscles can tighten, and blood may pool in your feet and legs. You can try standing on a platform or a step while your feet’ balls are secured on it. Have your heels are hanging on the edge while trying to raise your heels above the step as you attain balance and hold for some time. Lower your heels as you keep your core firm and do a repetition of 10 times.
You can also try to put your hands against a wall and extend your leg outwards while sinking and pushing your heels to the floor. Stretch slowly, and make sure to tighten your core as you do this. Recover to starting position and do three times for each leg. Make it a routine to relieve tension on your muscles and to promote better blood circulation in your leg area.
Get a Foot Massage
Massages do not have to be fancy; you can orchestrate your own massage using a tennis ball, baseball, or rolling foam. You can perform this by placing your feet on top of the foam or ball and then rolling it until your heel and toe are massaged and covered; repeat this as necessary. A common reason why soreness occurs is because of a tightened plantar fascia. This is the part of your feet that provides support and helps retain the form of your feet arch. Hence, flexing your toes upward will let you feel this prominent string-like structure. This is a part that you should focus on during massages; massaging it and applying proper thumb pressure with the aid of a lotion or oil can help relieve tension and pain instantly.
Unless you have diabetes or someone with open sores on your feet, you can try to mend your overstressed muscles by soaking them in a basin or bucket of warm water. You can add Epsom salts to the water or have a foot spa product added to it. Have a ratio of 2:1 tablespoon per gallon of water for the salt to make sure it is effective in relieving your overstressed and sore muscles and tissues. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes for the best results.
Ice for Swollen Feet
Unless you are someone with existing vascular problems, you can treat your inflamed foot with ice. You can start the process by placing and submerging your feet in a water bucket filled with ice. The recommended time for this is a maximum of 20 minutes a day to prevent adverse effects of the cold on your feet. Since the body recuperates and heals from minimal damages caused by stress and strains we face each day, ice expedites the process and makes the healing process more effective.
Find the Right Footwear
A huge aspect that comes into play in terms of foot comfort is the type and quality of shoes you wear. You may not have the right and most suitable footwear for your activities and lifestyle yet, but after a whole day of standing on your feet, you will have an idea of whether the shoes you are wearing truly give you comfort. Evaluation can be done, and appropriate measures of finding the type of shoes to wear to match your daily activities should be a part of your action plan. Be particular with the size, material, weight, and quality of footwear you use. In this way, you not only add to your comfort but lessen the intensity of discomfort and pain you get after a day of going around and standing on your feet.
Foot ache and discomfort is not a pleasant experience. It is a type of pain that can affect the quality of your life. Hence, with all these being said, you must know how to prevent and lessen the damage, more so, know how to relieve and ease your feet of the pain and discomfort you get from standing on your feet all day. Make sure to keep those interventions in mind the next time you go through a busy day that entails being on your feet.
