By Rehan Iqbal
Ending your day with sore, tired and achy feet has become the norm these days. Sometimes, even the slightest physical activities can leave you with extremely achy legs. If you are among the people who experience this, we are here to help. Keep reading to get some insights on how to relieve tired feet after a hard day’s work.
The daily 9 to 5 grind and then being stuck in traffic for long hours to finally reach home feeling like a wreck. I know exactly how tiring this can get especially if you drive yourself to work. Your feet and legs will be killing you from all the maneuvering you had to do between the accelerator and brakes. Learning how to relieve this tension from your feet at the comfort of your home is invaluable.
If you’re someone who doesn’t like to pop a pill every time a pain crops up, then these wonderful home remedies will come in handy. But first, let’s try to understand why exactly we get tired feet and legs:
Causes of Tired Feet
Everyone has experienced tired feet at one point or another in their lives. Tired, achy feet are characterized by pain in the muscles of the legs and feet. It usually makes walking difficult and any pressure applied on the feet can cause the pain to radiate upwards towards the rest of the leg. This pain is usually caused by many things.
- Overexertion during activity
- Standing for long periods
- Sitting for long hours
- Wearing ill-fitting shoes
- Arthritis
- Obesity
- Old age
The following are home remedies to help you soothe sore feet at home:
1. Use a Foot Bath
Most times, tired feet are as a result of overused muscles due to excessive activity or load-bearing. One of the best ways to relax tired feet is to use a foot bath. Simply soak your feet in a basin of warm water or a home foot spa for 5 to 10 minutes. You can add Epsom salts to the water for a soothing effect. Epsom salts can be found in any supermarket. Use a tablespoon of Epsom salts for every gallon of warm water. If your feet are swollen, use cold water instead of warm water and elevate your feet after the soak for 30 minutes.
2. Stretch Your Feet
Overused muscles have a tendency to spasm and contract. To reduce this tightness, you need to stretch your feet. The best time to do this is after a warm soak when the muscles are relaxed. Make yourself comfortable and begin by stretching out your toes, and the entire foot all the way to the ankle. To get to the calf muscles, lean against the wall while doing the runner’s stretch. Stretch each foot for a minimum of 10 minutes to relieve tension and relax all the muscles around the feet.
3. Give Your Feet Some Exercises
A workout for your toes, feet and ankles will help soothe and relax tight muscles. Here are some moves you can try:
- Gently pick up small objects with your toes while releasing them. Repeat this a few times for maximum benefit.
- While standing, lift your body off the ground using only your toes. Try being in that position for at least 5 minutes. Repeat this until you feel some relief in your feet.
- Make circular moves with your ankles while your toes are stretched out.
4. Do a Massage Therapy
Rub some oil or lotion on your feet and gently massage. Apply a little more pressure on the particularly sore areas. Focus on the cord-like structure that runs the entire length of the foot. You can best feel it on the bottom of your feet when you stretch the toes outwards. This is the part that bears the most weight because it supports the entire body. It is often the cause of tired, achy feet. One of the best ways to massage it is by rolling the bottom of your feet on a round object such as a bottle, or a tennis ball. Do this while sitting to avoid rolling over.
5. Consider Changing Your Shoes
Ill-fitting, excessively heavy or poorly ventilated shoes also contribute to tired, sore feet. You should always wear lightweight footwear that fits you and suits your type of job, activity or sport. Ladies should not wear more than 2 inch heels because they crowd the toes and contribute to sore muscles and foot problems such as bunions. If you’re a runner, you should consider replacing your shoes every 3 months or after every 500 miles.
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