Easy remedies for tired and achy feet!

You come home from a long day at work and your feet are killing you! It feels almost impossible to make it through your day when your feet are tired and hurting. Finally, after so much suffering, you go to see your doctor. For sure, there must be something wrong. However, a major frustration for patients is when they come to the office with painful feet and the x-rays and the work-up is negative. 

What causes achy and painful feet?

 Vague, achy foot pain is a common complaint and in the absence of your doctor seeing an actual problem, it is often because of one of two things:

(1) Poor footwear 

(2) Generalized weakness of the feet and core

It can also be frustrating when everything you have tried is not reducing the pain. If nothing is physically wrong, what are you to do to relieve this pain? Below, I list a few methods that may bring you some relief.

1) Get Yourself a Pair of House Shoes

Minimize walking and standing barefoot in the home: Try a pair of supportive indoor house shoes (clogs or mules).

2) Strengthen the Feet Muscles

Do exercises to strengthen the small muscles of the feet: Try balancing barefoot on each foot (hold on to something for support), perform toe flexion exercises (curls) and picking up marbles with your toes.

3) Evaluate Your Shoes

Find your most often worn shoes and check them out. Ask yourself these questions:

- Are the soles unevenly worn down? 

         If this is the case, you will want to work on strengthening your muscles to even your gait. Stretching and yoga can even out your hip and leg length. There are also insoles that even out your weight distribution.

- Do they have more than 400 miles on them? 

         If the answer is yes, it may be time for some new shoes!

- Do they provide some arch support?

         There are many type of inserts you can add to your shoes. You will want to ensure you find the right type for you. Everyone is different and all our foot needs are different. 

Strengthen Your Whole Body

4) Strengthen your lower back and core (abs, quadriceps, and hamstrings): Without a strong core your feet and ankles must work overtime to stabilize you.

Check out my 7 Day Work Out Plan

Take Part in Some Self-Care

5) Get regular pedicures: Calluses and skin buildup at the undersurface of your feet can cause pain on their own.

Hope this helps! 

XOXOXO

Dr. Eva