Avoiding foot pain from the start is the best way to prevent expensive surgeries later on. Even though many people disregard foot pain for long periods, pretending that the pain doesn’t exist or wishing it would resolve itself are not appropriate reactions to the foot pain situation. With few changes to the way feet are treated, pain can be a thing of the past. Here are a few reasons why ball of foot pain occurs, how to cure foot conditions such as Achilles heel tendonitis, and how minor changes, such as using insoles for high heel shoes, can help.

High Heels Can Spell Trouble for Feet

High heels can cause an array of problems for feet. From the very narrow toe box (the region around the front of the foot) to the angle of incline, these shoes can cause permanent damage to feet. First, when narrowing of the feet is forced, as occurs in a high heeled shoe, the mid-foot and toe regions are forced into an extremely narrow space. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments are strained into a tight area for what the foot needs. Over time, nerves become squashed, blood flow is decreased to areas of the foot (particularly in the toes) and painful foot issues develop.

Massage Can Aid Feet in More Than One Way

Foot pain and soreness can be rubbed away with a gentle massage. The gentle movement of the muscle fibers increases blood flow to the area. Massage also carries healing, oxygen-rich blood into the whole foot. Once muscles are relaxed, aggravated nerves can begin to decrease how often they are firing and pain relief results. If nerve endings and muscles are particularly irritated by a certain pair of shoes or an activity, inflammation will occur. In that case, it is advised to use ice packs or frozen vegetables to decrease inflammation. Raising the feet above heart level during this time is also very effective in allowing the extra fluids to be carried away from the foot.

How Foot Stretching Can Help Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles heel tendonitis can really put a sour note in anyone’s day. The tightening of this vital tendon can cause extreme pain in the lower leg. It can also be a major contributor to a tear or rip during activity. The way to help the tendon relax and elongate in order to lessen pain is to administer gentle stretching to the affected part. Seated on the floor, your legs should be extended straight out in front of you. Then, gently lean the upper body forward and your hamstring will be engaged in a stretch. Now that the legs are warmed up, gently coax the feet towards the head to target the Achilles tendon. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, rest for one minute, and repeat 5 times.

How Massage, Stretching and High Heel Insoles Work Together

In today’s high-fashion world, lack of willingness to buy more comfortable shoes can lead to disaster. However, with the use of high heel insoles, ball of foot pain can be significantly reduced or eliminated altogether. It is advisable to wear shoes with heels no higher than 2″ and with a wider-profile heel such as a wedge to avoid future metatarsalgia. If feet are sore at day’s end, consider switching to flat dress shoes for 3 days out of the week to allow the feet to receive maximum blood flow which will help feet heal in between wearing higher heels. Be sure to elongate foot muscles with a stretch and have them massaged to encourage maximum blood flow to the feet.

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