Are you worn-out with tired, painful, throbbing feet?

Foot pain is one of those things that are very common, in particular as we age. The majority of us will have no problem remembering the last time we suffered from tired, painful, throbbing feet or had foot pain. You may experience it after a long day on your feet at work or after a day out hitting the shops for some retail therapy. Whether it’s on a daily basis or now and again, it is important to know what is causing your pain and what you can do to help yourself and your feet.

Women who wear tight shoes or high heels, who follow the latest trend are more inclined to suffer from painful, throbbing feet.

Some of the things that can contribute to the cause of foot pain are; age, gender and dehydration.

Age
On the soles of our feet we have a natural fat pad to help protect and cushion our feet from everything we put them through throughout the day. This fat pad starts to thin as we age, leading to dry skin on the feet. Feet also begin to broaden and flatten. In older people, foot pain could present itself as the first early warning signs of arthritis, circulatory disease and diabetes.

Gender
Severe foot pain in women is very common. Most probably high-heeled shoes have put women at a higher risk than men to suffer from very bad foot pain. It looks to be that severe foot pain is the chief cause of a common overall disability in older women. Women also have a greater risk of suffering from aching feet if they are pregnant due to hormones being released, weight gain, swelling in their feet and ankles in particular towards the end of the pregnancy.

Dehydration
Feet have a lot of sweat glands, roughly about 250,000 of them. They can excrete up to a quarter of a litre of moisture every day. This is why it is important to drink lots of water and remember to drink it throughout the day.

What causes your feet to feel tired and achey?

Having fallen arches or what is known as over-pronated feet, causes a person to apply more energy when they walk. Research has shown this consequentially results in a greater level of tiredness and exhaustion at the end of the day when compared to other people who do not over-pronate. This research has been proven and reported in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Standing for a long period of time or doing a lot of hard fast walking has obvious consequences on your feet. Other causes comprise of badly padded shoes, tight socks or stocking and shoes which do not fit properly. As all these cause bad and reduced blood circulation to the feet and ankles thus causing tired and aching feet.

Relief and treatment from tired, aching feet.

Try to have your feet massaged on a regular basis.

Try to exercise your feet, it can help them stay healthy. You will tone muscles and it will help to reinforce and strengthen the arches and stimulate your blood circulation. (Have a look at the exercise below)

Soak your feet in warm water in a big bowl or a foot spa with some Teatree oil in it. Peppermint oil is also very good and has a calming effect. To relax your feet you can also use a good quality foot cream.

• Take some time-out. Lie on the floor and put your feet up onto the couch or bed for about 15-20 minutes and relax. This is a method of clearing the lymph modes and the water retention which could be the probable causes of your aching feet.

Wear orthotic insoles in your shoes, they can be very beneficial. Dr Foot Insoles control over pronation and support your arches, getting rid of one of the key causes of tired and aching feet! For women's fashion shoes Dr Foot Slim Fit Insoles can be very useful, they provide both cushioning and re-alignment.

Some useful foot exercises.

* Whilst sitting down, extend and stretch the sole of the foot in a straight line with the leg, hold for a few seconds and relax, then repeat.

* Still sitting, stretch out and extend your feet one at a time and rotate and turn slowly at the ankle, whilst trying to make the biggest circle you can manage with your big toe. Do this in one direction to begin with then the other.

* Still stay sitting with your feet on the floor. Move your toes up and down, nice and steady, focus on the toes only.

* For this one you will have to stand up with your feet parallel to each other, you can use a sturdy piece of furniture for support if you need to. Rise up and down on your tiptoes slowly. This exercise helps to strengthen the foot muscles and exercise the leg muscles.