Since the outbreak of COVID-19 and more people working from home, we have seen an influx in foot pain in iso.
Many of our patients have returned to the clinic with past foot pain flare-ups or presenting with new concerns.
This influx of foot pain in iso is commonly caused by not wearing any shoes around the house all day or wearing footwear with little or no support. Shoes such as slippers, flat slides, crocs, or “just socks” are frequently reported by our patients.
We are also seeing people who are walking and running more than ever with the restrictions on gyms and pools. This is leading to progressive tissue overloads, as patients are doing the same type of exercise day in and day out. The feet are not getting a much-needed break.
I can empathise with my patients as I myself suffered foot pain. This year whilst on maternity leave, I fell into the same trap! I was home a lot more and getting up frequently at night to attend to my baby. I would jump out of bed with nothing but socks on. After a while, I started to notice a slight tightness in my right foot. This rapidly turned into discomfort and then pain!
I quickly booked myself in to see my colleague Angela, who smiled when I told her what I had been doing (yes I should know better).
So here is what I did to resolve my foot pain and hopefully can help to prevent and/or treat your foot pain in iso…
- Began foot mobilisation, tool-assisted massage, and shockwave therapy with Angela to get on top of my foot pain and injury.
- Placed my arch support thongs by the side of my bed and slipped these on whenever I was getting up to the baby, getting a glass of water or going to the toilet (this alone made a big difference).
- Wore my runners and orthotics and kept these on all day.
- Used my Point of Relief under my foot when I was feeding or sitting down to work on my laptop.
- Started calf strengthening and ankle mobility exercises (I did these in the shower as I found it helped to warm up my muscles). It was also the only time of the day I got to myself!
Tip: If you have started to notice a sensation of tightening or aching in your foot, especially when laying in bed at night or getting out of bed this can be the initial signs of foot pathology.
Foot pain is extremely frustrating as it starts to slow you down. Please don’t wait until it restricts your mobility- get onto it asap because the longer you leave it the harder it is to get you better!
I speak from experience as a podiatrist and an injured patient.
Regards
Monique Milne
