Avoiding Chronic Achilles Tendonitis with 3 Easy Preventive Foot Care Measures

By: Fred Salomon Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Avoiding foot pain in advance is the best way to not have painful foot surgeries later. Though many people pay no attention to foot pain for years, pretending that the pain doesn't exist or wishing it would just disappear 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 ball of foot pain occurs, how to resolve issues with feet such as chronic Achilles tendonitis, and how minor changes, such as using insoles for high heels, can help.

High Heels Can Spell Trouble for Feet

Shoes with high heels can create much trouble for your feet. From the tight toe box (the area surrounding the front of the foot) to the angle of incline, these shoes can permanently damage muscles, nerves, and bones in the feet. First, when feet are squeezed into tight shoes, as it does in a high heeled shoe, the mid-foot and toe areas are forced into an unnatural position. The tendons, muscles, 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 problems with the feet occur.

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 opens up the flow of blood to the region. Massage also brings healing, oxygen-rich blood into the affected foot. Once muscles are relaxed, aggravated nerves can begin to slow their firing and pain relief is achieved. If nerve endings and muscles are especially aggravated 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 helpful in allowing the extra fluids to be taken away by the lymph system from the foot.

Achilles Heel Tendonitis Can Be Eased with This Stretch

Achilles heel tendonitis can really put a damper on anyone's day. The constricton of this vital tendon can cause contracting 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 apply gentle stretching to the affected part. 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 the muscles in your legs have sufficiently been warmed up, softly coax the feet towards the head to target the Achilles tendon. Hold the stretch for about 30-45 seconds, rest for one minute, and repeat 5 times.

Massage, Stretch and Insoles For High Heel Shoes Can Prevent Painful Foot Conditions

In today's world where shoes must look good (not feel good), lack of willingness to buy more comfortable shoes can lead to disaster. However, with the use of insoles for high heel shoes, ball of foot pain 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 changing to flat dress shoes for 3 days out of the week to allow the feet some time for increased 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 utmost blood flow to the feet.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Many people are worried about the consequences of having flat feet. The researchers at Footminders have found an ideal solution for flat feet problems. The orthotics, shoe inserts and arch supports from Footminders are recommended by many podiatrists to relieve this condition.