3 Types of Massage and Acupuncture That Can Relieve Metatarsalgia
Posted on January 12, 2010. Filed under: foot heel pain | Tags: foot pain, high heel orthotics, Massage Therapy, metatarsalgia, Morton's Neuroma |
During those periods when pain in your feet stops you dead in your tracks, there seems to be nothing to do, but to sit down. Seemingly endless doctor’s appointments, work absences, inactivity, and even weight gain can all be side effects of chronic pain in your feet. However, there are some viable options. Acupuncture, special massage methods, shoe insoles for high heels, and foot oils and creams can help your feet be refreshed and pain-free.
Not only will your feet have fewer pains such as metatarsalgia ( ball of foot pain), but the inflammation will subside so that sensitive nerve endings can heal and be calmed. The other parts of the feet that can suffer greatly are the muscles.. All three of these healing, all natural solutions will have you free from foot agony right away.
Trying Needle Therapy Can Pay Off Big Time with Morton’s Neuroma
Acupuncture is the practice of putting in hair-thin needles into “chi”, a name for regions in the body to rejuvenate the energy and blood flow that has been distrupted due to overuse. With feet, this can easily happen with athletic activities, wearing high heels, and with certain foot conditions such as ball of foot pain and Morton’s Neuroma. Treatment for Morton’s Neuroma can begin with a visit to a massage therapist and acupuncturist to relieve aggravated foot tissues and help to start the healing process.
Acupuncture specialists practice a necessary art in that they are almost always able to effectively take away chronic foot pain in their patients. In a 1999 study reported in the journal “Acupuncture in Medicine”, specialists have found that electrical stimulation of the needles augmented blood flow to the trouble spots and facilitated tissue repair.
Whether It’s Metatarsalgia or Morton’s Neuroma that’s Keeping You from Life, these Massages Ease Aching Feet
Healthy blood flow can be essential when trying to cure problems of the lower body. Massage methods can help with metatarsalgia ( ball of foot pain) and aid in Morton Neuroma. These methods are becoming very popular among sports therapists, and massage therapists, reflexologists, and physical therapists. By gently rubbing the bottom of the feet with the thumbs in an upward, sweeping motion, blood flow is temporarily restored to the feet.
Reported by the American Massage Therapy Association, two great methods involve specifically using the thumbs. Several methods seem to work best, including the thumb sweep and walk methods. With the first technique, the thumbs are positioned on the top of the feet and then move in a raking motion up and down. The second technique involves the thumbs being held on the bottom of the feet and are walked upwards while pressing firmly.
Trying these Natural Oils Can Help During Morton’s Neuroma
There’s no one smarter than Mother Nature when it comes to foot cures. Some of the most effective foot products have natural oils included to relieve, cool down, and improve blood flow. One of the primary natural oils used in foot care products is menthol. Taken from the leaves of the mint plant, once put on to the skin, menthol provides a cooling sensation.
Eucalyptus and camphor are also sometimes found in foot creams and oils. These substances have similar benefits to menthol because they give a feeling of cooling to the feet while raising blood flow. Aloe also helps fight dry skin and cleanses feet while giving lubrication during massage therapy. For people who need their feet soaked in a soothing warm bath, Epsom salts help remove toxins from the feet while lessening inflammation.
One of the essential ways to get a handle on foot pain caused by wearing high heeled shoes are high heel orthotics. These devices support our foot arches and metatarsal areas, thus decreasing the stress on the balls of our feet.
Whether you have metatarsalgia ( ball of foot pain), are already using shoe insoles for high heels, or need Morton’s Neuroma; acupuncture, massage, and foot oils can help. Feel your best and get back on your feet today by trying out these three fabulous techniques.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )How Preventive Foot Care Can Relieve Metatarsalgia and Chronic Achilles Tendonitis
Posted on September 29, 2009. Filed under: foot heel pain | Tags: Achilles heel, achilles tendonitis, ball of foot pain, foot pain, heel pain, high heel insoles, high heel shoes, high heels, insoles, metatarsalgia, orthotics, tendinitis |
Stopping foot pain before it begins is the best way to prevent expensive surgeries later on. Even though many people ignore foot pain for long periods, pretending that the pain isn’t there or hoping it would fix itself are not appropriate solutions 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 treat foot problems such as Achilles tendonitis, and how minor changes, such as using insoles for high heels, can help.
Why Some Shoes Can Be the Source of Ball Of Foot Pain
High heels can cause an array of problems for feet. From the tight toe box (the area surrounding the front of the foot) to the angle of incline, these shoes can do quite a bit of internal 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 tendons, muscles, and ligaments are strained into a tight area for what the foot needs. Over time, nerves become compressed, blood flow is decreased to areas of the foot (particularly in the toes) and painful foot issues develop.
How a Foot Massage Can Ease Achilles Tendonitis
Massage is a great method for soothing aching and sore feet. The mild movement of the muscle fibers increases blood flow to the area. Massage also delivers healing, oxygen-rich blood into the entire foot. Once muscles are relaxed, irritated nervous tissue can begin to stop firing so that pain can be relieved. If muscles and nerve endings are especially aggravated by a certain pair of shoes or an activity, swollen feet 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 effective in allowing the excess fluids to be taken away by the lymph system from the foot.
Achilles Tendonitis Can Be Eased with This Stretch
Achilles heel pain 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 shrinking enough to rip during activity such as running. The way to help the tendon relax and elongate in order to lessen pain is to apply gentle stretching to the area. Seated on the floor, your legs should be extended straight out in front of you. Then, gently lean the upper body forward and the hamstring will begin to stretch out. Now that your leg muscles have increased blood flow, softly coax the feet towards the head to focus on the Achilles tendon. Hold the stretch for about 30-45 seconds, rest for 60 seconds, and repeat 5 times.
Ball Of Foot Pain Doesn’t Have to Be a Part of Your Life Anymore
In today’s world where shoes must look good (not feel good), lack of willingness to get rid of the painful shoes is unfortunate. However, with the use of high heel insoles, metatarsalgia can be effectively relieved. 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 feet are sore at day’s end, 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 elongate foot muscles with a stretch and have them massaged to encourage optimal blood flow to the feet.
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