Foot pain is a common problem. According to the Mayo Clinic, foot pain can affect any part of the foot. Foot pain can range from mild to severe, and many types of foot pain and problems can be debilitating, affecting a person's ability to work, participate in leisure activities or simply ambulate. Left untreated, severe foot pain may lead to long-term structural damage of the foot. Most types of foot pain, however, respond well to conservative therapies.
Shoe Therapy
According to Dr. Ray McClanahan, a sports podiatrist and a leader in conservative foot care, the type of shoe a person wears significantly affects the function, structure and health of her foot. McClanahan suggests that conventional footwear is the cause of numerous types of foot pain, including pain associated with bunions, plantar fasciosis, metatarsalgia and ingrown toenails. He adds that, while footwear should protect the feet, most conventional footwear goes far beyond this simple requirement. In fact, most contemporary footwear prevents the foot from developing the strength and flexibility the unshod foot assumes through prolonged use. The four most problematic design features of conventional shoes, according to McClanahan, are elevated heels, tapering toe boxes, toe spring and rigid, inflexible soles. Wearing shoes that are flat, widest in the toe box and flexible will help alleviate or eliminate many causes of foot pain.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy can help relieve foot pain or discomfort, speed injury healing by improving circulation to the damaged tissues, and reduce scar tissue and myofascial adhesions that may be contributing to pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, increased circulation is one of the primary physical health benefits associated with massage therapy, and is especially important for those people who experience compromised blood flow as a result of a medical condition. Diabetics frequently suffer from foot and lower extremity circulation problems, and foot massage therapy helps ward off diabetes-related foot pain and complications, including ulcers and gangrene, states the Alternative Medicine Zone website. Enhanced blood flow to the feet is associated with optimal soft tissue injury healing, as the increased circulation brings important nutrients to the damaged tissues and helps remove problematic metabolic byproducts.
Graston Therapy
Graston therapy is an effective treatment modality for many painful foot conditions, especially those conditions--either acute or chronic--involving tendon, ligament or muscle damage. According to the Graston Technique website, manual medicine practitioners perform Graston therapy to reduce scar tissue and myofascial adhesions throughout the body, including the feet. Graston therapy, also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, involves the use of six stainless steel tools. Each tool possesses a beveled leading edge, which is dragged or scraped along the skin to detect and treat dysfunctional areas in the muscles, tendons and ligaments, and their associated connective tissue. Because the six Graston tools are shaped differently, certain tools will be better suited to treat foot pain, based on foot shape and anatomy. Many patients experience significant reductions in foot pain after just a few treatments using this effective manual therapy method.
