MD Podiatrist Recommends Stretching and Strengthening Feet and Legs

If you’re someone who stands all day, you probably already know the body strains this leads to that can eventually turn chronic. “Prolonged standing can result in health consequences such as backaches, muscle fatigue, and leg and foot cramps,” explains Dan Michaels, DPM. “The added stress to our bodies due to long-term, prolonged standing can also result in arthritis and high blood pressure.” That means taking care of your foot health can be beneficial for all other health avenues in the body.
 
Like any other part of your body, working out your feet can help strengthen them, which can help you avoid foot pain later on. “A great exercise for feet is walking barefoot on sand,” suggests Dr. Michaels. “It’s a great way to stretch and strengthen the feet and calves. Additional beneficial stretches are toe raises, toe points, and toe curls.” If stretching doesn’t seem to be helping and foot pain is chronic, it might be time to reach out to a professional.