{"id":7082,"date":"2019-07-05T06:08:29","date_gmt":"2019-07-05T06:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7082"},"modified":"2021-06-11T19:03:12","modified_gmt":"2021-06-11T19:03:12","slug":"14-home-care-tips-for-metatarsalgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-home-care-tips-for-metatarsalgia\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Home Care Tips for Metatarsalgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Metatarsalgia refers to pain experienced in the foot. Typically this term is used to describe pain that is located near the ball of the foot. This condition is common in people who participate in running sports such as track and field as well as any type of high impact sport such as football or soccer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who are suffering from metatarsalgia will typically experience pain that is located near the metatarsal joints, which are located near the toes. There are several reasons that a person may experience this type of pain including gout, osteoarthritis, stress fractures, calluses, and simple pain and irritation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, metatarsalgia will start out as mild discomfort that then turns into an extreme amount of pain that may leave a person struggling to stand, walk, or run. If you are suffering from metatarsalgia there are a few things that you can do in order to ease the pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 home care tips for dealing with metatarsalgia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Contrast Baths<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are suffering from foot pain you may want to try hot and cold immersion therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrast baths are often used as a way to soothe sore muscles. This practice can help to reduce pain, swelling, and will encourage the flow of blood <\/a>in the feet. The warm water will cause vasodilation. Following it with cold water will produce vasoconstriction. Alternating between hot and cold baths will help pump any stagnant fluid out of the body. This helps to reduce inflammation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To perform this therapy for your feet, set on the edge of a tube and allow the warm water to flow over your feet for three minutes. Switch the water to a cold that you can tolerate. Allow the cold water to flow over the feet for three minutes and then switch back to warm. Do this altering from hot to cold six times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Epsom Salt<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you hear the word salt you may automatically think about something that you put on your food. However epsom salt<\/a> is not a salt that you eat. The name comes from the chemical structure of this substance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When epsom salt is added to water it breaks down into sulfate and magnesium. Adding some epsom salt to a warm bath allows the body to soak these chemicals in. This can help to reduce swelling, pain, and bruises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When taking an epsom salt bath it is important to use water that is quite warm. Add at least one or two cups of the salt to the bath. You should make sure that you soak your feet in the epsom saltwater for a minimum of twelve minutes. Make sure that you are relaxed during this time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also fill a foot bath with water and add in epsom salt if you do not want to submerge yourself in a tub. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Ice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to foot pain, one of the most useful remedies that you can use is ice. Icing a sore area can quickly reduce swelling <\/a>and any soreness. It can also promote the health of the muscle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help ease foot pain, first fill up a bucket with some ice. Place your foot or feet inside of the bucket of ice and try to relax. It can be a bit shocking at first, but after about a minute you will get used to the cold and will feel the foot start to become numb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to make sure that you do not leave your feet in the bucket of ice for more than twenty minutes. For the best results, you are going to want to perform this ice treatment at least a few times each day. Make sure that you allow several hours in between each of the treatments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Foot Massages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you are suffering from foot pain, chances are that you do not want anyone to touch your feet at all. In fact, there are some causes of foot pain that actually make the area quite tender <\/a>to touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a good solid foot massage can be just what you need in order to begin the healing process. It is important to note that if you are going to try a foot massage to help ease your pain you need to focus on trigger points in the foot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seek out any of the tender spots on the foot and then press into them. Do this while you are stretching out your foot. These tender spots will feel tight. Make sure to use massage oil to help encourage the flow of blood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oil will also help to increase the flexibility of the foot and the massaging will help stretch out the muscles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Use Fish Oil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons that you should be using fish oil. Fish oil<\/a> is full of omega-three fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are important for your health overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are suffering from foot pain, fish oil can help to support nerve health, which can help prevent foot pain. You can take a fish oil supplement or you can simply add some fish to your diet. This will increase the process of healing and also decrease any inflammation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are choosing to take a supplement it is very important to make sure that you purchase the supplement from a reputable source. You want to make sure that what you are putting into your body is completely healthy and is not going to do more harm than good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When choosing fish to eat, wild-caught salmon and other wild-caught fish are the best sources of omega 3. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Foot Workout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people do not realize just how many muscle <\/a>groups are in the feet. The truth is that the muscle groups of the feet make up around 25 percent of the muscles of the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ignoring the function and strength of this muscle group would be insane. In order to keep the feet strong, you need to exercise them. Exercising the foot muscles will help to restore the length of the muscles in the lower leg. It also helps to increase the balance of the entire body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increasing the balance and restoring the length of the lower leg muscles can greatly reduce the pain that you are experiencing in your feet. One simple exercise that you can do is to simply drop a towel on the floor and then use your toes to scrunch the towel up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can keep a towel on the floor by your bed and do this exercise four or five times right as you get up in the morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Rest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are times when you are experiencing foot pain when all you really need to do is take some time to relax. Resting your feet can go a long way when it comes to dealing with pain in the balls of your feet.  Make sure that you elevate your feet as this can help to reduce pressure throughout your entire leg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, simply elevating your legs will feel good almost immediately. When you lift your feet up, blood <\/a>is encouraged to start to flow in the veins of the legs. Keeping your feet elevated for a few hours will provide your feet with a much-needed break. Elevating your feet also allows the blood to move more freely throughout the entire body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An increase in blood flow will not only help with the pain that you are experiencing in the balls of your feet,  but it can also help with any other pain that you may be having as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Replace Worn Shoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the main causes of pain <\/a>in the feet is quite simple, wearing shoes that do not provide your feet with the support that they need to function properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go through your shoe closet and look over the shoes that you wear most often. Are they worn out? How long have you had them? Older shoes that are worn out provide an unstable environment for your feet. This can cause abnormal movements when you are walking, running, or even just simply standing. Ideally, you should replace your shoes every six months. This is especially true for shoes that you exercise in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good shoe should provide cushion, support, and also be rigid enough that they keep the foot balanced. One of the best things that you can do to help heal foot pain is to toss out those old shoes and replace them with ones that provide proper support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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