Foot Health Blog by Footminders

At times when your feet are exhausted, in pain, and overused, the pain frequently can turn unbearable. High-impact activities can place extreme pressure on our feet, and cause problems with our tendons, muscles, and bones. Aching blisters, bunions, and shin splints can make even walking a painful undertaking. Nonetheless, there are a few options that can help manage the pain and heal the injuries when carried out regularly. Below are three ways to help your feet heal so you can resume normal activities.

The First Weeks of Training Can Cause Blisters

Snugly-fitted shoes can cause blisters on the skin of the feet. They are prone to develop on all regions of the feet, but the bony nub on the heel is the most affected site. Given that the skin is the body’s largest organ, and accountable for shielding us from harmful organisms, a blister should not be purposely popped. Podiatrists advocate using moleskin as a great option for guarding a blister to avoiding it from opening up. If a blister has already popped, it is recommended to wash the region and apply an antibacterial substance. Then, maintain the site wrapped with a bandage.

Shin Splints Can Halt Training

Another more serious foot problem that can occur is shin pain. This uncomfortable condition is caused by abuse of the lower leg by any activity that involves repeated impact. The specific origin of the injury is still being researched, but they seem to be caused by injury to a tendon in the leg identified as the posterior peroneal tendon. Given that this problem also seems to afflict people who experience over-pronation of their feet (over-pronation is the inward rolling of the foot), special support devices in the shoes, known as insoles for sports are especially effective.

Treatment for shin pain can consist of icing the area, resting it until it is healed, and doing activities that are non-impact such as using an elliptical or swimming. To stop the injury from returning, wear sport shoe insoles when you participatein impact activities.

Treating Heel Pain

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most painful heel and foot issues to suffer from. Heel pain arises when the plantar fascia is stretched excessively and becomes full, tender, and difficult to put pressure on. A proper method to treat these conditions early on is with adequate arch support and padding, which can be provided by using insoles for sports. Other treatment options including icing the area and seeing a physical therapist are also helpful.

When the legs and feet become painful, your body is sending you a vital warning: it needs help. Often times, just relaxing from strenuous workouts for a period of time and using insoles for sports is enough. But when more critical problems develop such as shin pain, a doctor should be called in order to appropriately evaluate the problem and provide adequate treatment.

Constant pain in your feet can sometimes indicate the need for corrective surgery. Though this may be in extreme cases the best course of action, there are non-surgical treatments that can be used to evade surgery if done promptly. Early intervention is essential when it comes to treating painful problems of the lower legs like plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and shin splints. Though some of these methods may seem unconventional, or even simplistic, they are quite effective when dealing with the first stages of conditions affecting the foot and lower leg.

Adjusting Footwear Choices and Massaging Feet Can Help

One effective treatment option is massage therapy. When tight footwear is worn, our feet can get calluses, blisters, corns, and bunions. The most-effective way to fix this problem is by not wearing tight shoes If you’re unable to do so, giving the feet a soothing massage will get the blood flowing and will help them feel better. Tenderness and aggravation can be caused by compressed nerves, lack of blood supply, and swelling. Massaging the affected area with gentle, rhythmic massage is the best way to soothe aching feet. Soaking in a solution of warm Epsom salts is also a great way to soothe tight muscles and swelling. Using a foot cream that contains mint or menthol is a good means to provide the foot with a cool boost.

Meeting the Challenges of Excess Pronation

Pronation is the tendency of the foot to roll either outward or inward during walking or running motions. When the severity of inward or outward roll is highly-exaggerated, it can cause foot arch support issues, and also shin pain and pain in the heels. Acupuncture has shown to be effective in the treatment of certain painful lower leg conditions. The idea behind the needle and the certain areas they stimulate is to open up the flow of electricity and blood to the affected regions. Therefore, the body is able to heal by itself, and the pain is relieved. A 1996 study demonstrated that blood flow was returned to areas that were treated with electrical stimulation from acupuncture.

Flat Feet Can Cause Big Problems for Feet

Using orthotic insoles is a great option to provide the feet with preventive care, and also to treat minor foot soreness due to insufficient arch support. When the foot arch does not support itself during regular activity, the arch fails to absorb the impact of the body’s weight. The full power of the impact can cause plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and bunions, just to name a few. By using orthotic insoles, the arch is adequately supported, and the entire foot operates adequately regarding shock absorption. This basic addition to your footwear can make physical activity better as well as stop foot pain.

For people who suffer from foot pain and conditions of the lower leg, simply walking can be almost impossible. However, with proper preventive care and gentle treatment provided early on, the feet can be healed before the situation worsens and re-injury can be prevented.