Talk about having to balance a lot! Well, your feet do that quite literally on a daily basis. Walking, exercising, standing, or even sitting, our feet come under pressure and stress. Naturally, you may have to deal with swelling, soreness, or just a foot ache, especially if your daily routine involves a lot of movement.
A recent scientific study in the UK revealed that the prevalence of various causes of foot pain was recorded among 2980 out of 100,000 people, which translates to roughly 3%. This ratio can vary, with people of middle and old age falling victim to different foot-related ailments more frequently. Also, larger cities like York, where people move more frequently, can have greater instances of such issues. If you live in the historic city of York, you’ll understand for yourself.
Still, it is important to give your feet some much-needed relief from time to time. How you do this is up to you. Here are a few tips to help you relax and rejuvenate your feet so that the activity that they go through on a daily basis doesn’t start to take its toll on them.
- Visit a podiatrist to get a thorough checkup
You may not feel like there is something wrong with your feet, but it is still a good idea to get a checkup. In the UK, more than 12,833 chiropodists and podiatrists are registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). 3000 of these professionals work exclusively with the NHS. So if you’re looking for a podiatrist York has plenty of options for you to choose from both on and off the national healthcare system. These professionals can sit with you to discuss whether you have any foot-related problems or if you want to have some tests run to ascertain the health of your feet and the surrounding joints.
Podiatrists specialize in parts including the lower leg, ankle, and feet; they can determine numerous issues at early stages before they can become more serious. They can also advise you on the best practices when it comes to looking after your feet and helping them relax after a day of strenuous activities.
- Give your feet a good soaking
It doesn’t matter if you move a lot throughout the day or not; your feet are just as important as other parts of the body. So, caring for them is something you need to take seriously. And one of the most common ways you can give your feet the care they deserve is to give them a fresh, healthy soaking on a regular basis.
Most people prefer salts, especially Epsom, and warm water for soaking their feet. This is a great remedy as long as the water isn’t too hot. High temperatures can harm the skin and cause it to dry, which defeats the purpose of soothing.
A foot bath with the right temperature and concentration of Epsom salts can reduce swelling and relieve sore muscles. Take enough water to soak your feet, heat it up to between 33 and 38 C, not more, and then add half a cup of Epsom salts to the mix. Soak your feet for twenty minutes and remove on to a towel. It is best to apply moisturizer to your feet once they are dry to ensure you can prevent cracking and irritation. This is a common and preferable method you can practice to freshen up your feet.
- Watch your weight
Taking steps to keep your body weight within a normal range is one of the biggest favors you can do for your feet. Excessive weight puts more pressure on your feet, which results in aches and inflammation becoming common occurrences. Obesity is known to lead to diabetes, which can, in turn, lead to many foot-related issues like arthritis. While weight gain may be reversible, the other conditions that result from it are not, so it is best to keep them at bay as much as possible.
- Use RICE to soothe your feet
Yes, you probably didn’t read that one properly. It’s RICE and not rice! Podiatrists commonly recommend RICE or rest, ice, compression, and elevation to various patients as these four components are great for helping relieve your feet.
Particularly if you have an injury or any other muscle-related issue in your feet, RICE is a great technique to get some relief. Not only does it ease pain and reduce swelling, but it also speeds up the healing process considerably. Here is what you can do:
- Rest: It is preferable to give the injured foot as many breaks from movement and pressure as you can. If both feet are suffering, you can choose to get bed rest and avoid moving for a duration recommended by the doctor,
- Icing: Ice is a great choice for reducing soreness and pain in various body parts. When it comes to feet, you can use an ice pack or a thin towel to apply the ice to your skin. Make sure you don’t apply the ice for more than 20 minutes and wait for another 40 minutes before icing again,
- Compression: Placing your foot in an elastic brace that is easily available from your nearest pharmacy can reduce the swelling considerably,
- Elevate: In addition to the above three steps, it is also advisable to keep the feet raised, ideally above the level of your heart, to minimize swelling.
- Exercising helps a lot
Many times, the problem with your feet can be due to a lack of movement or exercise. Also, stretching and movement work great when you are suffering from issues like an Achilles tendon or plantar fasciitis. Even a light stretch can help get the blood flowing and release pressure.
By exercising and stretching your heel cord, you can reduce the strain on the feet and improve pain in this part too. One effective exercise is lunging against a wall; it decreases the pressure on your feet. You can also drop your heel down a stair or any other level surface to lower the pain you are feeling.
Conclusion
Your feet undoubtedly go through a lot while helping you move, stand and exercise. From time to time, therefore, you need to give them special attention so that they can continue to function efficiently. You can take certain steps to relieve stress and pain in your feet, decrease any inflammation that may exist, and allow the muscles and joints to continue moving freely. Make sure you take remedial actions on a regular basis so that your feet stay healthy.