3 Exercises to Ease General Foot Pain

Why is it that a pedicure has become common practice but stretching your feet has not? Our feet carry us and are the foundation of our entire body. Here are three simple stretches to reduce general foot pain and discomfort.

Tennis Ball Roll

• Sit in a straight-backed chair with your feet flat on the floor.

• Place a tennis ball on the floor near your feet. You can also use a lacrosse ball or golf ball.

• Put your foot on top of the tennis ball and roll it around, massaging the bottom of your foot.

• Increase or decrease pressure as needed.

• Roll for two minutes on each foot.

Toe Extension

• Sit in a straight-backed chair with your feet flat on the floor.

• Pick one foot up and place it on your opposite thigh.

• Grab your toes with one hand and pull them up toward your ankle until you feel a stretch along the bottom of your foot and in your heel cord.

• Massage the arch of your foot with your other hand during the stretch. Hold for 10 seconds.

• Repeat 10 times on each foot.

Achilles Stretch

• Face a wall and raise the arms so that the palms of the hands are resting flat against the wall.

• Move one foot back, keeping the knee straight. Then, bend the knee of the opposite leg.

• Keep both the heels flat on the floor.

• Push the hips forward until there is a stretching feeling in the Achilles tendon and calf muscles.

• Hold for 30 seconds before switching sides. Repeat three times on each side.

• For a slightly different stretch, bend the back knee and push the hips forward.