Foot Pain And Ways To Treat It

In today's world, a large number of people spend the majority of their days on their feet. Even those who work at desks tend to strain their feet during workouts and recreational activities. In some cases, the simple act of walking can lead to painful feet.

There are many different causes of this pain. Poorly fitting shoes is among the most common. Another problem area is uneven walking surfaces. Whatever the cause of the pain, it can affect how one moves and functions, possibly even leading to pain in other areas such as the lower back.

Most people use over-the-counter medications as their first line of defense against foot pain. NSAID pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can reduce swelling and relieve pain caused by common stresses to the foot. However, these are not always the most effective form of pain relief.

Individuals suffering from plantar fasciitis often find that using the foot to roll a small ball around on the floor is effective. Others find that application of ice for up to twenty minutes at a time helps them. Still others find soaking the feet in warm water and a foot massage to be effective.

Dealing with transferred pain is not quite as easy. Most people do not realize how complicated the structure of the foot is and how it interacts with the rest of the body. When pain is caused by repeated stresses from outside the body, the pain can develop so slowly that one does not even realize it when he/she begins to compensate in an effort to reduce the sensations.

It has long been known that pain will cause an individual to move differently in an effort to avoid aggravating the injured body part. This is just as true of foot pain, despite the fact you often cannot just get off your feet. This often leads to back pain.

One remedy for this type of pain that has been shown to be effective is the insertion of shoe orthotics. These specially designed insoles are created with added support in areas that are overstressed due to unnatural movement habits. They help to gently push the foot back into a more natural position while limiting the amount of unnatural movement used to compensate for pain. This has been shown to help reduce both transferred pain in the back and the pain in the feet that caused one to change how he/she moves.