We've all experienced foot pain. With the increased demand for labor-intensive jobs and the growing rate of obesity in the U.S., foot pain is among the most common reasons patients seek care from a podiatrist. Foot pain is throbbing, achy, pain along the bottom of the feet, typically on the arches or radiating from the heel bone. It can be extremely debilitating. Some experience pain after wearing ill-fitting shoes (the remedy, of course, is to remove the shoes to relieve the pain). But what about the nagging and generalized achy pain that fails to go away? The first thing is to determine what could be the possible cause of the nagging pain:

• Have you had a sudden increase in activities?
• Have you experienced weight gain?
• Have you placed a lot of stress or strain on your feet recently?

Increased demand and stress on your feet equals more pain. For example, suppose you're generally sedentary but walked more while moving into a new home. In that case, you may experience foot pain because of a sudden increase in activity and stress on your feet. Identifying the cause can help you find solutions and prevent foot pain from occurring in the future. Here are some strategies to help with foot pain relief and ease you back to performing daily activities.

1. Wear the right shoes. Make sure you're wearing the right athletic shoes. People often wear shoes that are not the proper fit for their feet. Everyone has a unique foot type that requires a specific shoe for the best support and comfort. Shoes are not one-size-fits-all. Determine your foot type and shoe size by going to a local athletic shoe store to get measured. You might even find that your right foot and left foot are different sizes.
2.  Consider orthotic insoles. You might benefit from the comfort and support of an orthotic insert, depending on your foot type and the style of shoe you are wearing. Orthotic inserts are placed inside shoes. They are devices used to help provide additional support. There are a variety of orthotic inserts that can be purchased either online or at your local athletic shoe store.
3. Start a stretching routine. Most of the time, the ligaments and tendons in your feet and legs aren't stretched often, resulting in foot pain. The Achilles tendon is the largest in the body, and it is shortened or contracted due to not being adequately stretched.
4. Use ice. Icing your feet at the end of the day can help tremendously reduce inflammation, pain and swelling. You can get a bottle of water and freeze it and then roll it under your feet to help provide relief.
5. Epsom salt soak. Soak your feet in a mixture of warm water and Epsom salt. The combination of magnesium and heat helps increase blood circulation to help improve mobility and relax tense muscle fibers.

I hope you found these tips helpful and that you can get back on your feet pain-free!