By Mark Blackburne
When it comes to our physical health, we tend to overlook the one part of our body that is often furthest from our gaze… our feet! As they carry us through life, they do an astonishing mileage – on average, 2.5 million steps in a lifetime, equating to over 75’000 miles! Surprisingly complex, these beautifully engineered workhorses are designed to provide us with a lifetime of service. Still, like any complex machine, when they do go wrong, they usually do so in spectacular style and in such a way that you will never fail to appreciate them again.
As a sports massage therapist, one of the most common foot injuries I see is Plantar Fasciitis – an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a ligament that connects your heel bone to your toes. It usually becomes inflamed due to sustained compression or squeezing from extended contact with hard surfaces. Repeated standing on the balls of your feet on a hard floor or running/training on a hard surface (with or without shoes) can all bring it on. It’s most commonly noticed when you get out of bed in the morning – once standing, you feel a sharp pain on the soles of your feet that can make those first few steps very uncomfortable.
It will typically resolve on its own in about 12 weeks with correct footwear (cushioned or gel insoles) and avoiding those hard surfaces. However, targeted massaging of the area can give rapid relief from pain and discomfort and speed up the overall recovery time and subsequent return to normal activities.
Foot massage can also help alleviate pain and stiffness caused by arthritis, strains and sprains, historic injury, or aid recovery after surgery in the area (such as to correct a bunion, fracture, or tendon/ligament tear).
It can also have a very pleasant side effect in that it often promotes a general feeling of well-being. With such a complex network of nerves terminating in the foot, stimulation of the area using various techniques not only relieves tired and aching feet but also triggers the release of Endorphins, the body’s very own happy hormone, leaving you feeling relaxed and chilled. Endorphins can also help relieve pain and reduce stress.
So why not treat your feet, book a foot massage with one of our Natural Balance Therapists, and put that spring back in your step this month?
By Mark Blackburne
Mark offers a range of remedial and relaxing treatments, including Sports Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Swedish and Foot Massage. He’s available at Natural Balance Therapies on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays. To check his availability, click here.