Table of contents:
- What happens to your feet when wearing high heels?
- How do you relieve foot pain from wearing high heels?
- 1. Soak the feet
- 2. Stretch
- 3. Compress with ice
- 4. Massaging the feet
High heels are a part of women's lifestyle that cannot be removed. On certain occasions, high heels are a kind of mandatory item that needs to be used. Even though the feet look beautiful and level when using high heels, the consequences they cause cannot be underestimated, especially if they are used too long and often. So, how do you relieve foot pain from wearing high heels?
What happens to your feet when wearing high heels?
Lloyd Reed, professor of the QUT School of Clinical Sciences, Australia states that walking in high heels puts excessive pressure on the front of the foot, especially under the big toe joint.
Most of the weight of the body will be supported by the front legs. So not infrequently this condition triggers pain in the big toe joint, under the ball of the foot or metatarsalgia and pain under the heel or plantar fasciitis.
In addition, various studies have also seen that swelling in the feet and ankles is the result of wearing high heels that cannot be underestimated. This is caused due to circulation problems that eventually press on the blood vessels in the legs until they swell. This condition eventually makes your feet sore and makes it difficult for you to walk.
How do you relieve foot pain from wearing high heels?
Although it can cause various dangers, but don't worry, you can still use high heels as long as you don't overdo it. However, when the pain strikes after wearing high heels for a day, you can do the following ways to help relieve it:
1. Soak the feet
Soaking your feet in warm water sprinkled with Epsom salt can help relieve pain. Epsom salt is a natural mineral magnesium and sulfate that can be absorbed through the skin and soothe aching parts of the body including the feet.
The magnesium content in this salt can help reduce inflammation and also cramps in the legs. While warm water helps dilate blood vessels and open skin pores. Soak your feet for 20 minutes while leaning back to relax your body.
2. Stretch
Stretching can help with the pain from wearing high heels. The way to do it is easy, you just need to sit down and stretch your legs forward. Then, bend over and grab the soles of your feet with both hands, holding for about 10 seconds. Then in the same sitting position, bend one leg towards your chest and hold it for 60 seconds. Then, change legs and repeat until you feel better.
Then, try to stand up and rotate your ankles alternately clockwise and counterclockwise. This one stretch can help improve circulation and remove excess fluid in the lower leg that makes it look swollen.
3. Compress with ice
Source: Health Ambition
If the leg feels throbbing and has redness, then you can compress it with ice. Ice can help constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling. It's easy, take ice cubes or ice that has melted using a towel then wrap your lower leg. Remember not to apply ice cubes directly to your skin as this can cause tissue damage. Repeat until you feel much better.
4. Massaging the feet
Massaging your feet helps relieve pain and soreness. You can do this yourself or ask a professional therapist for help. Massage helps to improve blocked blood circulation, reduce lymphatic swelling, and relieve minor injuries that may occur from wearing high heels.
