What Are the Causes and Treatments for Aching Feet?
Anyone can suffer from sore and achy feet. That said, the condition is more likely to occur in people with flat or high arched feet. Furthermore, it is more likely to occur in overweight people or people who have to stand all day on their feet. Thus, aches in the feet can occur in people who have excess weight on the feet or expose the feet to activities that are typically used to.
The main issue with achy and tired feet is that it stops you from being mobile, and it’s discomforting. It can even compromise your mood and lead to various secondary foot health complications.
More so, as we grow older, aching and tired feet become a common occurrence in many people’s lives. Also, intensive activities that demand you to use the feet are a leading cause. We all know the pain associated with walking outdoors for several hours, especially during activities such as hiking.
Women, to be specific, are much more prone to foot health complications than men, as they tend to wear high heeled shoes. Whatever the case, using the correct treatment techniques for aching feet can be beneficial in relieving discomfort, and improving your productivity.
What Causes Tired or Aching Feet?
The cause of tired and painful feet are many. According to common to foot health knowledge, fallen arches or over pronated feet can cause one to use more energy when walking. Thus, the use of high levels of energy can lead to fatigue at the end of the day, as when compared to people who don’t suffer from overpronation.
For those without fallen arches, factors such as strenuous walking or standing for long durations can compromise your natural gait. More so, fallen arches may also require the same level of treatment for aching feet, and those for people who have overpronation issues.
Various other factors increase the likelihood of suffering from aching or tired feet. These include ill-fitting, tight, and poorly padded footwear. Such type of footwear can compromise the flow of blood, thus leading to various foot health complications.
Common Risk Factors for Tired, Aching Feet
Various risk factors increase the likelihood of you suffering for arching feet. Below is a list of some of the common ones:
- Age – as we grow older, various components in our bodies start to degrade. For instance, the natural collection of fat on the soles of the feet might begin to thin out, and this increases pressure on the foot structure. Also, the skin on the feet becomes dry, which can lead to increased levels of cracking, especially when under pressure. Foot pain in older people can also be signs of various health issues included diabetes, circulatory complications, arthritis, and more.
- Gender – women are more likely to suffer from aching and tired feet, as when compared to men. Usually, these occur due to high heeled or tight-fitting shoes. Also, intense foot pain seems to be a leading cause of disability or reduced mobility in elderly individuals. Pregnant women are also likely to suffer from aching feet due to weight gain, especially at the ankles.
- Dehydration – the feet comprise of a total of 200,000 sweat glands, which can produce as much as 0.25 liters per day. Thus, it’s crucial to remember to consume lots of water all through the day and keep the body hydrated.
Treatment for Aching or Tired Feet
Choosing the ideal treatment for aching feet depends on the primary cause of the issue. That said, there are several solutions you can consider. They include:
- Lay on the floor and place the feet up on the couch for a few minutes. This will help to clear the lymph nodes in the feet and helping with water retention. Usually, these are two common causes of aching or swollen feet.
- Consider soaking the feet in a mixture of warm water and tea tree oil. You can use a basin, or a foot spa if one is close by. Furthermore, using peppermint oil is also excellent for the feet, and can have a soothing side effect. Complete the process by applying some foot cream to help relax the feet, and also promote moisture retention.
- Perform regular foot massage to help promote circulation and muscle performance. There are several useful foot massage techniques you can consider. Foot massages go well with foot exercises that help improve joint performance, especially in demanding situations.
Top Tips for Treating Tired and Painful Feet
When it comes to treating your foot, many common techniques are suitable for your needs. The list below identifies some of the popular ones:
Choose the Correct Footwear
Your shoes have to be compatible with the nature of your work and the biomechanics of your body. The biomechanics of your body includes the structure of your feet and your natural gait. Understanding these two factors is a critical aspect of choosing proper footwear, especially if you are still growing.
An orthopedist can provide useful insight you can use to choose proper shoes for your needs. Shoe features such as flex point, heel counter support, and torsional stability are all crucial factors.
Support the Feet
The mechanics of your feet may require additional support, especially if you are big bodied. Also, you need added support if you tend to engage in regular physical activity. This may occur in the form of over counter arch supports or custom foot orthotics. Usually, these are all factors that depend on your specific foot needs.
Custom foot orthotics are highly effective for relieving pain, especially from issues such as plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, bunions, and more. These are all foot health complications that occur when you stand for several hours on your feet.
Get Good Compression Socks
If your job involves standing for long durations, you should not that blood collects in your ankles or feet. Such an issue causes the feet to swell, leading to discomfort. Compression socks are excellent because they are ergonomic and suitable for arching feet. More so, compression socks are designed to help push blood up the legs, to the heart, and back to the blood cells. Such factors help to improve blood circulation efficiency, in places such as the feet and legs.
Change your Footwear
The shoes are prone to wear and tear and might lose their ability to absorb shock as they did when new. Therefore, the feet and joints might have to absorb the additional trauma that would otherwise have gone to the shoes.
Consider wearing different pairs of shoes to work every day, especially if your job involves several hours of standing. By changing your footwear regularly, you improve the level of cushioning in the midsoles of the shoes. More so, it also helps to improve the overall lifespan of the shoes.
Practice Stretching Regularly
Being able to expose your feet to regular physical health activity can go a long way in reducing the occurrence of arching feet. The foot is a section of the body with muscles and bones that require proper stretching.
Use a massage ball to perform foot and leg stretches throughout the day. These are excellent for massaging the tissue in the feet, which helps to reduce issues such as fatigue, while also promoting circulation. Place the massage ball under the feet, and roll it along the under of your foot. During breaks at work, take a few minutes to perform stretches.
Rest and Recover
Arriving at home from work does not mean the day is over, although this would have been great. The feet require adequate rest, particularly if you have a demanding job. If you use shoe inserts, they provide excellent support throughout the day.
That said, what about when you arrive home from work? How will you support your feet, especially if you want to move around the house doing chores? Putting on supportive home footwear regularly will improve the ability of your feet to recover from long days of work.
Furthermore, adequate recovery helps to reduce any issues that arise from overpronated arches.
Consult A foot Specialist
If all the methods mentioned above are working for you, then that’s great. Else, in the rare case, that the above techniques are not productive, consult a foot health specialist. The aching feet might be signs of degenerative or various forms of secondary health complications.
Get a foot specialist to evaluate your feet and help you choose the most appropriate solution for the problem.
Finally
The feet are some of the most critical organs in the body. Taking good care of your feet can go a long way in relieving tired, painful, and aching feet. It’s a complication that can affect anyone!
Yes, that`s right. Even small kids can get aching feet, especially if they have to play all day long in tight shoes. Thus, get comfortable shoes, alternate footwear, and perform foot exercises.
These are all effective techniques for improving the performance and comfort of your feet. Remember that when these DIY techniques are not productive, visit a foot health professional.
