5 Ways To Soothe Tired Feet - Tips from The Pros

Did you know that nurses walk an average of 4 km while working a 12-hour shift?! That’s a whole lot of mileage! While all of us tend to get sore feet from time to time, nurses truly are the pros when it comes to soothing tired feet. 

Our team recently held a contest in partnership with Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec - in which we polled nurses and asked them what they do to alleviate the feeling of sore, tired feet. We got a variety of interesting solutions, and so today we wanted to take some time to share these tips from the pros.

Save this post for the next time you find yourself battling achy soles!

Getting a foot/leg massage 

After a long, tiring day on your feet, what could be better than a little leg or foot massage? Many of the nurses polled cited that receiving a massage was their favorite way to unwind after a long day of work with sore feet. And we can totally see why! If your partner is giving you a massage, it’s a nice way to share an intimate moment with each other and feel loved and taken care of. If you’re single, it’s a perfect opportunity to indulge in a little self-care and experience the benefits of self-massage. 

There are a variety of techniques for giving a relieving foot massage, but depending on where you are sore you or your partner may want to focus on kneading or massaging the thumbs into the heel, massaging the Achilles heel, massaging the various pressure points of the foot, or even massaging the toes.

Elevating the feet

One of the best ways to soothe tired feet after you’ve been standing on them all day is to elevate them when you come home. Most of the nurses surveyed recommended elevating your feet for at least 15 minutes at the end of your day. A great way to do this that also relieves pressure in the legs is to lay on your back and elevate your legs against a wall, putting a pillow underneath your head and keeping your legs straight. 

Many yogis swear by this exercise and it also helps with blood circulation, especially if you’ve been sitting or standing all day.

Alternatively, you could elevate your feet by lying down and piling up multiple cushions under your legs and feet. 

Wearing comfortable shoes

A surefire way to experience uncomfortable foot pain is to wear shoes that put extra strain on your soles (we’re looking at you high heels!). One study, conducted in the UK, found that over 40 percent of women (compared to 12 percent of men) continue to wear shoes that cause them significant foot pain.

It’s time that ladies take a page from the nurses’ book and start investing in some comfortable footwear! While there are certain occasions that certainly warrant some high heels or strappy sandals, you’ll want to make sure that the shoes you’re wearing on a day-to-day basis are designed with comfort and ergonomics in mind. 

Warm Epsom salt bath

What could be more relaxing than drawing a hot bath after an exhausting day? While the act of a bubble bath is soothing in and of itself, throwing some Epsom salts into your bath will give you an even deeper level of relief. Epsom salt bath crystals contain magnesium sulfate, known to ease muscle tension and relieve stress. Drawing an Epsom salt bath or making yourself an Epsom salt foot bath is the perfect way to absorb magnesium through the skin and get some much-needed relief! Plus, who doesn’t love an excuse for a bubble bath? Throw on some relaxing tunes, grab yourself a mug of tea (or even a glass of wine!), and your favorite book, and you’ve got a calming evening ahead.

Compression socks

A fantastic way to both soothe and prevent foot pain is to begin wearing compression socks. Compression socks are designed to improve circulation, while relieving tired legs, preventing minor swelling in the feet, ankles, and legs and reducing the risk of minor varicose veins. Whether you’re sitting all day and have stiff legs and feet, or you have pain after a long day of being on your feet, compression socks will help mitigate these feelings of discomfort.

Many people avoid wearing compression socks because they hold onto the myth that compression socks are ugly or un-stylish. But in reality, compression socks have come a long way from what they used to be, and are now available in a variety of colors, patterns, and styles! By browsing our Fashion Compression Socks, you’ll be sure to find socks that offer therapeutic benefits, without compromising your style. 

So there you have it! Five pain-relief solutions for the next time you find yourself with a bad case of tired soles, from the pros themselves. We’re so grateful for all the nurses that helped us put together these tips and for the opportunity to be partnering with the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers auxiliaires du Québec. We couldn’t be more appreciative of our frontline workers!