Standing on your feet, whether it is for five hours or 10 hours, can wreak havoc on your entire body. What most people do not realize is just how much pressure and weight they put on their feet daily, until they start to feel the pain. From aches and pains to swelling, your feet give you plenty of indications that they need some TLC.

What Happens When You Overuse Your Feet

Your foot is made up of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons. While it is certainly built for durability, it does not mean it was meant to hold excessive weight and pressure for extended periods of time. When your job requires you to stand for hours on end, you may be overusing your feet and when that happens, you could experience conditions such as:

• Intense heel pain
• Bruises
• Redness and swelling in the feet
• Aches and pains in the calves, lower back and legs
• Blisters
• Plantar fasciitis – an inflammatory condition that affects the plantar fascia tissue on the bottom of your feet
• Difficulty walking or putting shoes back on
• Aches and dull pains
• Tenderness

Foot Therapy at Home: How to Relieve Aches and Pains

There are a few things you can do at home to relieve your sore feet. If you have chronic or prolonged pains or the pain becomes too severe to walk, you should see a podiatrist right away because you may have developed a more serious condition. Some at home treatments you can do to relieve the pain include:

• Use Anti-Inflammatory Medications – These are sold over the counter and can help reduce pain and swelling.
• Cool Your Feet – Run your feet under cool water or apply an ice pack for 20 minutes; repeat three to four times per day. You can also apply an ice pack directly to the bottom of your feet for 15 to 20 minutes, several times a day.
• Stretching – Cross one foot over your other leg while sitting. Hold your toes and pull them toward your body to stretch the plantar fascia. Gently hold this position for 10 seconds, then repeat on the other foot. Repeat on each side 20 times.
• Wear Orthotics – Standing all day requires your feet to have excellent support. If you have falling arches or improperly fitted shoes, you could suffer from severe pain. Visit a podiatrist to get custom orthotics so that you can properly support your feet; which in turn, support the entire body.
• Exercise – Yoga is particularly good for stretching the entire lower and upper halves of your body. It can loosen tense muscles, including those in your feet, and increase circulation. Try to stretch your quads, calves and even rotate your ankles a few times throughout the day to help stimulate circulation and loosen tight muscles.

Seek Professional Treatment from a Podiatrist

If the pain continues, you may need to see a podiatrist for diagnosis and proper treatment. A podiatrist can fit you for an orthotic sole and use other therapeutic methods to help your feet properly recover.

If you are suffering from constant foot pain, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 647-989-7794 to schedule an appointment with one of our foot experts.