101 Ways to Relieve Foot Pain

1. Visit a podiatrist

A podiatrist is a doctor who is focused on the foot and ankle. Your primary care provider can probably give you a great recommendation for a specialist, like a podiatrist, based on your needs.

2. Visit a physical therapist

Physical therapists are movement experts who can you train your body through exercises, stretches and lifestyle choices to improve your functional health. If you've never seen a physical therapist before, your primary care provider or podiatrist can guide you on when it would be helpful to make an appointment with a PT.

3. Visit a chiropractor

Chiropractors are focused on mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, aka how your bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves interact. A chiropractor can provide an adjustment that realigns your spine to improve your gait and foot health.

4. Visit a naturopathic doctor

While your regular general practitioner might refer you to a specialist for foot pain, a naturopathic doctor typically tries to heal the whole body using natural remedies like herbs, homeopathy, massage therapy, acupuncture, counseling and nutritional coaching.

5. Get a massage

A treatment from a licensed massage therapist can do some wonder on the soft tissue of your feet. While it seems like a luxury, it might just be the thing your feet need.

6. Try reflexology

The philosophy of reflexology follows that different parts of your feet and hands correspond to different organs of the body. So, in practice, this trigger-point therapy applies pressure to specific parts of your feet to improve circulation and promote health in the related area of the body. (It also just feels really, really good.)

7. Try acupuncture

The goal of this traditional Chinese medicine practice is to get optimal flow of qi (or your “life energy”) and blood circulation throughout the different meridians or pathways. According to a study published in the Singapore Medical Journal, acupuncture treatments for plantar fasciitis has been shown to significantly reduce pain levels.

8. Try Gua Sha

Also known as scraping, this traditional Chinese medicine practice uses blunt tool to scrape skin as a manner of promoting blood flow, healing and repair. For people experiencing foot pain caused by inflamed connective tissue—the planter fascia—that supports the arch of the foot, this might just the thing you need.

9. Seek out preventive care

Don’t just see a professional when you’re at peak pain levels. Try to keep a schedule of routine visits so that you can avoid the extreme pain.

10. Do the “Tabletop Test”

This podiatrist-approved method is the easiest way to see if your shoes are worn out. According to Dr. Jackie Sutera: “You just put it up on the tabletop, at eye level, and you assess whether or not the heel lays flat on the counter and is even with the rest of the shoe. Check to see if the sole is old, worn out, or if it's uneven. If it is, it's time to replace it.”

11. Measure your feet correctly

Dr. Casey Ann Pidich, an NYC-based podiatrist who talked to us about common running mistakes, says that most people think their big toe is their longest toe, but it might actually be the second toe that’s your longest.” So, whichever the longest toe, first or second, that’s where you should measure from.

12. Calculate the right shoe fit

“You should have a bit of wiggle room from your longest toe—and actually all your toes—when fitting a sneaker,” says Dr. Pidich.

13. Understand your feet

Do you have a wide foot? Narrow foot? Short big toe? Low arches? A visit to a professional can you understand what’s really going with your feet so that you can make smarter footwear decisions. For example: If Nike shoes tend to run small, maybe they’re not the best chose for wider feet.

14. Wear your worn-in shoes for longer spurts

Whether you’re running a marathon or trying to get in 10,000 walking steps, Dr. Pidich told us that as you run or walk, comfortable sneakers eventually mold to specific pressure points on your feet, but this takes some wears. So don’t opt for the pair just out of the box for a big race or long hike.

15. Put the flip flops away

Occasionally wearing them to a lazy day at the pool or beach? Fine. But long-term wear of flip flips can lead to flattened arches, bunions, hammertoes and more.

16. Hop on the Crocs bandwagon

Thanks to Gen-Z the ugliest shoe in the game is now a hot commodity. Even if you refuse to wear in them in the real word, Crocs have a wide toe bed (good for feet), some suitable arch support and easy-on-and-off wearability that make them great house shoes. And maybe get an extra pair to run errands in too.

17. Upgrade your shoes to be podiatrist-approved

Seasons of foot pain? No thanks. We’ve chatted with podiatrists to understand which shoes can support our feet through 365 days a year: Winter, spring, summer, fall.

18. Buy winter boots with a slight heel

Dr. Miguel Cunha, a board-certified podiatric surgeon and founder of Gotham Footcare in NYC, told PureWow editor Abby Hepworth, that a slight heel—less than ¾-inch in relation to the front—is actually better for you than shoes that are completely flat because it takes the stress off the Achilles tendon.

19. Test out natural shoes

On the contrary, natural shoes are designed to be flat, wide and flexible, which allow your foot to be in its natural shape so that your toes have room to organically and utilize your natural foot strength.

20. And barefoot shoes

Another name for natural shoes, barefoot shoes allow your feet to do their natural thing without additional padding, which can actually help prevent injury. Yes, this includes those weird toe shoes as well as other more traditional-looking models.

21. Try self-massage

No time to get to a professional appointment? Try massaging your own feet! Finding helpful tips is as easy as a YouTube search.

22. Cut your toenails straight across

When Dr. Sutera chatted with PureWow’s beauty director, Jenny Jin, about podiatrist-approved tips for at-home pedicures, she emphasized leaving just a small amount of white at the tips. Otherwise, leaving your toenails too long, too short or cut into the corners, can lead to ingrown toenails as they grow in. Good to know.

23. Do not cut your cuticles

It’s oh-so tempting, but let them be! Dr. Sutera reminds us that our cuticles are there to protect the nail matrix, which houses the cells that grow nails. Instead, try pushing them back, which is a gentler option.

24. File your callouses in one direction

Going back and forth in a scrubbing motion rips the skin unevenly and actually leads to a rough regrowth, says Dr. Sutera.

25. Don’t Over-file Your Callouses

Going too deep can cause infection and rough regrowth.

26. Clean your tools

Even if you’re the only one using them, your pumice stone and clippers can build up with bacteria and infect your feet. Clean them regularly with an antiseptic like Betadine after each use.

27. Moisturize your feet regularly

Our poor little piggies often get forgotten. But regular moisturizing with specific foot products can help avoid cracks, fissures and rough regrowth. Per Dr. Sutera, look for ingredients like urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid, which help exfoliate and moisturize. Her personal recommendation is AmLactin Foot Repair Foot Cream Therapy ($11 at Amazon!).

28. Take off toe polish after two weeks

Newsflash: That three-month coat is actually dehydrating your toenails. This can cause flaking, discoloration and dryness. And worse, says, Dr. Sutera, fungus, yeast and mold can start to form under that pretty color if it’s on too long.

29. And don’t forget about your cuticles

An oil or moisturizer on your nail beds will keep both your nails and cuticles hydrated.

30. Walk with correct posture

“Better balance and posture means more even and measured pressure on your hips, legs, knees, ankles and feet when you’re running, walking or even just standing at the stove cooking dinner,” writes Abby Hepworth.

31. Nix the everyday heel-wearing

Fashionable? Yes. Good for your feet? No. Take PureWow’s fashion director’s word for it: “[My] podiatrist has threatened surgery with a six-week recovery time and having to put metal plates in my feet, she’s also suggested that I stop wearing heels, pointy shoes and anything that my newly made (and rather expensive) orthotics can’t fit into.”

32. Wear shoes even when you’re at home

Walking around barefoot in your house’s hard surfaces for an extended period of time can lead to lots of troubling foot pain—especially if you’re already dealing with flat feet and other types of foot pain. Here are three podiatrist-approved house shoes.

33. Stop running without socks

Dr. Pidich basically says this is the worst idea ever since socks help prevent blisters and absorb sweat. Need to re-up your running sock stock? Here are the 12 best pairs you can buy.

34. Don’t work out through pain

Even if you start wearing socks on your runs again (good job), pain can be your poor feet trying to tell you something, whether it’s tendonitis or even a stress fracture, it’s essential to talk to a professional.

35. Eat less sodium

Feet swelling up to the point of pain? You’d be surprised that a diet of high sodium might be the culprit behind puffy red feet.

36. Drink more water

Staying hydrated can help with inflammation and help remove toxins from the body.

37. Roll your foot over a frozen water bottle

The cold compress helps to decrease inflammation as the rolling massages the soft tissue.

38. Prop up your feet every night with ice

Let those puppies drain! Ten to 15 minutes every night with a cold compress could help you wake up without foot pain.

39. Big toe crunch

Ever heard of “toega”? It’s yoga for your toes. For a big toe crunch, stand on a soft surface and bend your big toe under the ball of your foot. Apply as much pressure as feels comfortable to stretch that first metatarsal joint

40. Big toe isolation

Some more toega! While standing, balanced on both feet, attempt to isolate your big toe by pushing it into the floor while simultaneously raising up the other four piggies and keeping the ball of your foot firmly on the ground.

41. Towel crunches

Our all-time favorite toega move: Lay out a towel. Now, sitting with your knees at a 90-degree angle, place your feet so that your toes touch the bottom of the towel. Now, scrunch your toes and grab the towel to pull it toward you until it bunches under your arches.

42. Treat your toes like fingers

Put those toes to work! Exercise your foot muscles by picking up that stray sock with your toes, instead of your hands. Who said fine motor skills were only about your fingers? Psst: If you’re recovering from an injury, this type of movement could be especially beneficial.

43. Flex your toes

Brian Hoke, a sports physical therapist says: “Flex your toes up and back for 10 seconds, then point them out and down like a ballerina for 10 seconds. Repeat this process, throwing in a few ankle rolls between sets, stretching slightly longer (12 seconds, then 15) each time until you feel sufficiently relaxed.”

44. Lunging calf stretch

A lot of foot pain actually comes from the tightening of calf muscles. So stretch those babies out! This is one of the easiest calf stretches to start with. Bend your front knee—keeping your knee aligned with your angle—and straighten your back leg, heel to the ground as much as possible. Use a wall for additional balance and support.

45. Heel drops

Stand with the balls of your foot on a raised platform or step. One foot at a time, drop your heel toward the floor, pedaling back and forth between feet.

46. Downward dog

This classic yoga pose is fabulous for getting a good calf stretch in. Start on all fours, then move your feet straight back and lift your hips up and back so you’re in an inverted V-shape. You can pedal through your heels for some extra stretch.

47. Seated calf stretch with a resistance band

Sitting down on the floor, stretch out your legs. Then take a resistance band (or a scarf you have on hand) and wrap around the ball of your foot, pulling it toward your shin until you feel the stretch.

48. Bent over calf stretch

From standing up, fold over, bending your knees. Straighten one knee forward and pull your foot toward you.

49. Seated forward fold

This releases tension in the calves and hamstrings as well. From a seated position, extend both legs straight out in front of you. Then, inhaling, reach both arms up, lengthening the spine. Exhale and fold forward, hinging at the hips as your arms reach towards your toes. Hold for five breaths and release

50. Sleeping swan

Basically, an all-over stretch, this one releases tension in the neck, shoulders, back, hips and legs. From a seated position with a pillow in front of you, bend the left knee, bringing the sole of the left foot to your right inner thigh. Lift the right hip to extend the right leg back behind you. Your upper right thigh and the top of your right foot should be pressed against the floor. Gently hinge forward from the hips and lower down as far as you can, keeping your torso aligned, until your head hits the pillow. Extend your arms forward with a slight bend in your elbows to further deepen the stretch. Hold here for ten breaths. Roll up slowly and repeat on the other side.

Strengthening your core can greatly reduce foot pain, and planks, according to PureWow editor Catrina Yohay's 15 Best Core Workouts You Can Do at Home, No Equipment Necessary, are a go-to.

From your plank position, engaging your core, jump your legs out wide and then back together as if you were doing a jumping jack.

Start on all fours, and then extend an opposite leg and arm out around hip height while keeping your balance. (If you're feeling this in your lower back, you're not engaging your core!)

On your back, slowly extend your left arm overhead and your right leg forward until your heel is an inch or two above the surface. Engage your core to refrain from arching your lower back—keeping contact between the floor and your lower back is key. Pause, return to the starting position, switch sides and repeat.

Stay on your back. "Bring your left knee in toward your chest and lift your shoulder blades up off the floor. Bring your right elbow toward your left knee, crunching up and twisting slightly. Keep the grip behind your head loose and do not pull on your neck. Switch sides and repeat," Yohay writes.

Still on your back, lift both legs up off the floor. Engage your core—duh—to keep your lower back firmly on the floor. Pull your navel in as you lift up. Slowly lower to the floor and repeat.

Instead of going straight up and down, move your legs side to side stopping a few inches above the ground or as far as you can without losing your balance. When you go to the right, keep your left shoulder anchored to the floor as you use your obliques to pull your legs back up and vice versa.

On your back with your legs at a 90-degree angle, extend your arms above your head and lift your shoulder blades off the ground in a crunch. Extra points if you can touch your toes.

Like crunches, only this time, with your shoulder blades off the ground, you're moving side to side touching your the heel of your foot.

It's the ultimate crunch. Per Yohay: "Begin in a seated position with your legs bent. Lean back slightly so your torso and thighs form a V shape, engaging your core to keep your back, shoulders and head lifted. Lift your feet off the floor and balance on your tailbone. Reach your arms straight out in front of you. This is your high boat." From there, straighten and lower your legs as your torso leans back, hovering your shoulder blades a few inches off the floor at your most extended point. Move back and forth between these two positions.

Chinese soup spoons have been used for centuries to perform gua sha. To use, lather on some cream or oil to the bottom of your foot. Then, applying light pressure, stroke the blunt edge of the spoon from the top of your heel to your foot pad in vertical strokes, making sure not to cause any additional pain. (If you’re in more pain, stop.) Do the same thing horizontally across your foot.

Made for "extremely dry and cracked feet" this $7 bottle of magic stuff is non-greasy, odorless and promises results in a just a few days.

Just like the soup spoon, you can use this tool for scraping the soft tissue (aka plantar fascia) found on the bottom of your feet while saving your thumbs.

A little trigger-point therapy on-the-go? Yes, please!

A little pain, a little gain. Plus this is anti-slip.

Roll away the pain while you're on a Zoom call.

These washable and reusable separators slip on easily, providing foot-saving alignment that can even be worn while you walk around.

Try wearing these washable soft gel pads during your next 10K for some added metatarsal support.

PureWow senior editor Dana Dickey tested the spike technology on her own feet and scored the red ball a whopping 96 out of 100 on the PW100 scale.

Even if you’re not trained in reflexology, these wooden tools can come in handy for applying the exact pressure your feet need to release tension and increase circulation.

Formulated with shea butter, coconut oil and Japanese cypress, these foot masks softens and nourishes skin without Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and Japanese Cypress to soften and nourish skin. Simply seal the booties around your around ankles, bing some Bling Empire (at least ten minutes of it), remove and massage the remaining moisturizer into your toes. It's a spa day at home.

Customers with hammer toe pain rave about how these little miracle worker correctors relieve foot pain and align their feet better.

You've done the frozen water bottle, but now you're making it sustainable. (Plus those ridges look great for massage.)

Increase blood flow and amp up your arch support with these compression sleeves. You can wear them to bed (which, psst, might even help you get to sleep faster), with sandals or even under another pair of socks for your workout or that big hike you’re planning.

Another scraping tool, this one has double-beveled edges that can really get deep into your myofascial pain. To use, apply oil to the foot, angle the tool at 45 degrees in the direction that you want to treat and press using smooth, firm strokes in one direction.

This mat helps you really scrub your feet clean without uncomfortable shower gymnastics. But its bristles also promote circulation and massage your soles.

OK, now let's do two feet at once.

Gua sha strikes again! This particular scraping tool might be our favorite on the list for its easy-to-hold finger holes and ball point, which can be used to target specific acupressure points.

Because you want take your calf stretches to the next level.

Dr. Suzanne Fuchs, a foot and ankle surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Palm Beach, tells us that a night splint can help stretch the fascia as you sleep.

If you love the ball rolling trick, why not just invest in the whole package?

Per one very happy customer: "It's addicting, and I think my body just feels better as a result, making me want to continue. I stand on it while watching TV or reading emails, playing games on my phone." Stand on it for just a couple minutes twice a day.

Made from the seeds of the hemp plant, this natural remedy for pain has over 8,000 reviews with an average of 4.3 stars.

$21 at Amazon

The active ingredients in this cult-favorite brand's cream are cork oak extract (yes, the same cork from the bottle cap), which has anti-aging properties and peppermint-extracted menthol for a natural cooling effect. Relief never smelled so good.

For taking care of those sensitive cuticles after your at-home pedicure.

You’re hot and cold, you’re yes and you’re—wait, actually that feels amazing. Not meant for wearing while walking or standing, these therapy socks provide instant relief with gel silica packs that can be microwaved or frozen depending on your needs. Just cue up a Netflix binge, sit back and enjoy.

Chances are you've heard of these viral exfoliating slippers that you wear for an hour to slough away dry, cracked skin and calluses like no other. Reviews consistently rave about the "weird" product (probably because the effects take place a few days after you wear them), so if pedicure-pretty feet are the goal, this might just be the product for your yams.

Another highly rated and reviewed pain-relief product, these insoles are specifically designed to attack plantar fasciitis pain by realigning the fascia into a healthier position.

Five balls are better than one. That’s how the saying goes, right?

Don’t take our word for it. Just look at the over-4,000 reviews with an average of 4.4 stars that say these socks are the go-to for immediate relief from inflammation and swelling.

Not your average slippers—you’re definitely not supposed to walk around the house in these—slide these on for some prompt foot relief without having to do the heavy reflexology work yourself. Wear them for a few minutes (building up resilience over time) while catching up on the news to reap the full benefits of this funky footwear.

We’ve tried and tested YogaToes and can’t speak more highly of them (they scored a 91 out of 100 on our PW100 scale). Put these on while you’re watching TV, and 15 minutes later, your feet will feel brand-new.

Why get one calf stretcher when you can get two?

This set of four foot masks both restores and exfoliates with a blend of shea butter, jojoba and coconut oils as well as AHAs that remove dead skin cells.

A heated deep-tissue Shiatsu massage with ten different modes, this highly rated device might just be the best steal on our list.

This luxurious muscle-warming body oil is made with arnica and comfrey to alleviate soreness while black pepper essential oil creates an internal warming effect. Use for a massage or even as a daily moisturizer.

Psst: This can also be used as back massager.

Because using a pumice stone can is work. This stuff goes on like regular old moisturizer, but the glycolic acid gently exfoliates dead skin without all that extra muscle work.

With 18 deep-kneading nodes, this mid-range massager can target acupuncture points on your foot, stimulating blood flow and relieving stress. Take from it from one customer who commented: "My plantar heel pain is horrible. HORRIBLE. This machine makes it so much better when I use it regularly."

$57 at Amazon

Why should your feet get all the love? These strange looking devices go all the way up to your calves.

No that's not a Roomba. But this below-$100 massager does have a couple tricks up its sleeve—namely the air compression feature that differentiates this one from the pack.