Effective Treatments for Metatarsalgia
Stopping foot pain before it begins is the best way to avoid costly and painful surgical procedures down the road. Despite the fact that many people ignore foot pain for years, pretending that the pain isn’t there or hoping it would fix itself are not appropriate responses to the foot pain conundrum. With few changes to the way feet are treated, pain can be a thing of the past. Here are a few reasons why metatarsalgia occurs, how to cure foot conditions such as Achilles tendonitis, and how minor changes, like using high heel insoles, can help.
Foot Mechanics: The Evils of High-Heeled Shoes and Metatarsalgia
High-heeled shoes can wreak havoc on feet when worn regularly. From the very narrow toe box (the part enclosing the front of the foot) to the angle of incline, these shoes can cause permanent damage to feet. First, when feet are squeezed into tight shoes, as happens in a high heeled shoe, the mid-foot and toe portions of the foot are forced into a tiny space where they cannot function properly. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments are strained into a much smaller space than what the foot requires. Over time, nerves become squashed, blood flow is lessened to areas of the foot (particularly in the toes) and painful foot issues develop.
Metatarsalgia and How to Treat It
An ideal way of relieving tired and achy feet is to massage them. The soft movement of the muscle fibers opens up the flow of blood to the region. Massage also delivers healing, oxygen-rich blood into the affected foot. Once muscles are relaxed, nerve endings can begin to stop firing so that pain can be relieved. If nerve endings and muscles are especially aggravated by a certain pair of shoes or an activity, swelling will be present. In that case, applying ice to the foot for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off for several hours should help. Raising the feet above heart level during this time is also very effective in allowing the extra fluids to be taken away by the lymph system from the foot.
Stretching Can Ease Foot Pain in More Than One Way
Achilles tendonitis can really put a damper on anyone’s day. The constricton of this vital tendon can cause extreme pain in the lower leg. It can also be a major contributor to shrinking enough to rip during activity such as running. The way to lessen the tendon’s tightening in order to lessen pain is to administer gentle stretching to the region. Sit on the floor with both legs extended in a seated position. Then, slowly lean the upper body forward and the hamstring will begin to stretch out. Now that your leg muscles have increased blood flow, gently coax the feet towards the head to focus on the Achilles tendon. Hold the stretch for about 30 seconds, rest for one minute, and repeat 5 times.
Massage, Stretch and Orthotics For High Heels Can Prevent Painful Foot Conditions
In today’s world where shoes must look good (not feel good), lack of willingness to give up these types of shoes is regrettable. However, with the use of insoles for high heels, metatarsalgia can be significantly reduced or eliminated altogether. It is advisable to select shoes with low-profile heels and with a wider-profile heel such as a wedge to avoid future ball of foot pain. If pain occurs at the end of the day, consider switching to flat dress shoes for 3 days out of the week to allow the feet some rest from tight shoes which will help feet heal in between wearing higher heels. Be sure to massage and stretch to encourage maximum blood flow to the feet.
Tags: Achilles heel, ball of foot pain, foot pain, heel pain, high heel insoles, high heels, insoles, metatarsalgia, orthotics