These Simple Activities While at Home or at Work Can Help Relieve Foot Pain

Many people can attest to the discomfort that results when a small stone somehow finds its way into one of their shoes. In addition to the unexpectedness of such situations, the pain can be quite sharp, to the extent that the person must immediately stop whatever they are doing and remove the stone; what can perhaps be even more aggravating than this interruption is the fact that the stone is in reality a microscopic-sized pebble when it truly felt like a gigantic boulder while it was in the shoe.

Fortunately, that sharp pain goes away and is forgotten almost instantaneously in a vast majority these cases; the same cannot be said however, for individuals who experience acute, persistent, or chronic foot pain.  Unlike the straightforward aspect of removing a stone from a shoe, foot pain that is more intense or chronic in nature can be any/all of:

• Awkward
• Unbearable
• Demoralizing
• Incapacitating

Foot pain does not discriminate by gender or by age, and its onset and duration may be attributable to any number of factors or reasons. One of the more common types of foot pain, or more specifically heel pain, is a condition known as plantar fasciitis; this occurs when there is an inflammation of the band of tissue (or ligament) running along the base of the foot and connecting the toes to the heel bone.

The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is a shooting or piercing pain either in or near the heel. This pain is usually most severe as people take their first few steps upon waking or after being seated for a prolonged period of time; it can also worsen/intensify after physical exercise, although it may not be present during the activity itself.

Some of the risk factors most often associated with plantar fasciitis include:

• Age (more frequent between 40 and 60 years)
• Foot dynamics – arch structure; walking patterns
• Weight/obesity – adds undue stress on the ligament
• Certain types of exercise e.g.: running, dancing, aerobics
• Certain jobs – hours spent walking/standing on hard surfaces

However, with the investment of some time, commitment, and willpower, those suffering from plantar fasciitis or acute/chronic foot pain can relieve the associated inconvenience and discomfort; this can be achieved through such stress-free activities as the following, which can be done at home or perhaps in a work setting on a daily basis:

• Morning – stretch the plantar fascia tissue by flexing the foot upward and pulling on the toes gently (by hand) for a few seconds at a time; repeat several times per foot
• Anytime – massage the plantar fascia by rolling a tennis ball around the arch of the foot for several minutes per day, applying gentle pressure on the ball while doing so
• Evening – apply ice to the heel of the foot for roughly ten minutes; this can be done using a bag of ice cubes, a frozen bottle of water, or even a bag of frozen vegetables
• Bedtime – stretch the calves by looping a towel or perhaps an elastic exercise band around the ball of the foot and pulling gently toward the upper body; hold for several seconds and repeat three or four times per leg/foot

It is very important to note that ignoring such pain or trying to tolerate it, with the hope that it will eventually go away, can actually cause further detriment to the feet and lower limbs. And if applying the recommendations above does not produce the desired results, or even moderate results, a subsequent course of action would be contact a professional foot care clinic, such as the Comfort Stride Foot Care Clinic in Toronto or Mississauga, to book a consultation with a certified chiropodist.

Consult a Toronto Foot Care Clinic if Home Treatment of Foot Pain is Ineffective

Although home treatment may be more convenient and perhaps more cost-effective too, it might simply be insufficient or inadequate and hence, ineffective. And as noted above, the ramifications or consequences of foot pain can range from awkward to debilitating.

Yet having healthy and pain-free feet is fundamental to a happy and active lifestyle; thus if the pain persists and one’s mobility and/or their ability to work is limited, there may be the need for professional intervention by a qualified chiropodist from Comfort Stride Foot Care Clinic.

In such instances, a foot doctor can identify the cause of the pain then offer treatment options that could include one or more of the following:

• Custom orthotics
• Lifestyle modifications
• Exercise recommendations
• Changes to footwear choices
• Physiotherapy or hot/cold therapy

For more information on the treatment of plantar fasciitis and other types of foot pain by the a certified foot doctor from Comfort Stride Foot Care Clinic in Mississauga or Toronto, please visit our Foot Services page.

If you are experiencing persistent or chronic foot pain and home treatments have proven ineffective, Call the Comfort Stride Foot Care Clinic in Mississauga at 647-430-3444 or in Toronto at 647-989-7794 to schedule a consultation with a certified chiropodist who can determine the best course of treatment to relieve your pain and discomfort.