Your feet just might be the hardest working part of your body, they support your weight and let you walk, run, jump, stand, and stretch upwards on tip-toe. With 26 bones and more than 100 muscles, ligaments, and tendons, each foot and ankle work as a team to carry you everywhere you want to go. With all of this foot action, it isn’t a surprise that one of most common sources of discomfort that people often experience is swollen feet. Feet can puff up a half-size or even more because they don’t get the care and love they deserve..
Swollen feet are often caused by a buildup of fluid that isn’t always painful – unless it’s due to injury – and it can occur on just one side or both sides of the body. The most common reasons for swollen feet include standing or sitting in the same position for too long, eating too much salty food, being overweight, pregnancy and/or taking certain medication such as blood pressure medication, contraceptive pills, antidepressants, or steroids.
Feet swelling is a very common issue among pregnant women, but it can affect anyone. Cashiers, servers, office workers, nurses, doctors, and others who work on their feet or are sitting down all day, regularly end the day feeling like their shoes have shrunk and become too tight. The real reason is that when you don’t move much while standing or remain seated, the muscles don’t have a chance to contract, which causes the blood flow to and from your feet to slow down. While annoying, this kind of end-of-the-day swelling usually doesn’t indicate a larger problem and should go away once you’ve walked around or uncrossed your legs.
There are several things you can try if your feet regularly swell up. For example, elevate your legs above your heart level whenever you’re lying down, be sure to wear footwear that is not too constricting (sandals are perfect for this!), reduce your salt intake, and maintain a healthy body weight. But, without a doubt, one of the most effective ways to recover from swollen feet is through reflexology.
The human body is well equipped and designed to eliminate excess fluid, but a reflexology massage is one of the best ways to alleviate swelling problems. A foot massage won’t deal with the root causes that spurred the swelling, but it will help to drain some of the stagnant fluid from your feet and ankles and allow it move throughout your body.
Massaging your swollen feet will help relax the muscles and improve circulation. It works by activating the lymphatic system, which is the one in charge of moving the excess fluid out of your feet, resulting in reduced swelling. Massage your feet with firm strokes in the direction of your heart, applying some pressure several times a day. Don’t do it so hard it hurts, but apply firm pressure and enjoy the relief!
Suggested sandals for swelling feet: