12 Ways to Soothe Sore Feet

Soak Feet in Epsom Salts

A tried-and-true home remedy is a warm soak in Epsom salts. According to Lee, there's no evidence that Epsom salts, which add a boost of magnesium and sulfate to water, are any more effective than warm water alone. However, she says that Epsom salts do make bath water feel "softer," which can be very soothing.

Try a Quick Contrast Bath

Yoo suggests running a quick contrast bath—"hot water for five minutes, cold water for five minutes, hot water for five minutes"—to provide relief from sore feet. "The temperature change allows for contraction and dilation of the vessels in your feet," he says, which can remedy discomfort and ease the pain.

Stretch Feet and Toes

Stretching feet and toes is crucial to relieving sore feet and optimizing overall health, because, according to Pinker, "soreness in feet is usually a sign of inflammation." Pinker advises you stretch your feet and toes early in the morning, as well as part of your warm-up routine before exercise.

Yoo says you should be constantly stretching your feet in little bursts, all day long. "Ankle-foot-toe mobility works for sore feet prevention. Throughout the day, I'll take a few minutes to stretch out my toes in all directions and move my ankle and foot in all directions," he says. "This usually minimizes the incidence of soreness or stiffness of my feet. I also remove my shoes when I do these exercises to give my feet and toes a chance to breathe!"

When it comes to cracking your toes, Lee explains all that does is release a "buildup of nitrogen in the joints." It's not harmful she says, especially if toes pop when being stretched. Although she adds that some patients swear it makes them feel better, Lee advises flexing your foot downward for more intensive relief.

Stretch Calves and Hamstrings

In addition to stretching your feet and toes, it's important to address other parts of your limbs to relieve foot pain. "In physical therapy," explains Lee, "we never just focus on the foot, as pain is not isolated." She says the calf consists of three separate muscles (the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris) whose aponeuroses unite to form the Achilles tendon. "When that tendon is tight, the foot hurts," she says. Additionally, she recommends people give the hamstrings a good stretch, because, "everything is connected."

Use a Foot Roller

Foot rollers are highly effective to relieve foot pain, as they both stretch and massage the muscles in the feet at the same time. They are especially good "if you are prone to diagnoses like plantar fasciitis," says Yoo. However, there are some guidelines to foot rolling in order to maximize its efficacy and prevent further discomfort. "The key is to ease into using them," he says. "Start with three to five minutes at a time using light pressure, then gradually work your way into more pressure (applying more body weight). Actively using your toes while rolling is even more effective. That said, In the presence of acute pain or injury, this should be guided by a healthcare professional."

If you don't have a foot roller, Pinker suggests "rolling the foot over a frozen 20-ounce bottle of water or a tennis ball."

Self-Massage with a Massage Gun

If professional foot massage or reflexology isn't an option at the moment, self-massage is a good alternative. Massage guns are ultra-popular, as they deliver powerful pressure and allow you to tailor sensations. Lee suggests starting on the lowest setting and the flathead (as opposed to the bullet head, which gives an even deeper massage). Work your way up to higher settings. "If it hurts," she says, "you're doing it wrong."

Wear Compression Boots or Socks

Compression socks and boots can really work to address inflammation in your feet and ankles. "I personally use compression boots by Normatec, especially on days when I'm on my feet all day from work or athletics. Compression boots help to minimize any pooling of fluid that makes your feet or lower legs swell and your feet get sore from the forces of gravity during the day,"

Use an Insertable Insole

Lee says using an over-the-counter insole can be effective in relieving "fatigue in the arches." Not only does the foot have multiple arches, but each person's anatomy is also different. In order to maximize comfort, buy footwear to support the type of foot arch you have: low, medium, or high.

Go Barefoot

When possible, go barefoot, as this practice can be amazing for your feet. Yoo advises, "Unless there's an injury that makes walking barefoot difficult, you've just run a race, and the bottom of your feet have become tender, or you're walking outdoors, I typically favor bare feet over donning supportive footwear when not exercising." He adds, "As humans, we've become so used to wearing footwear, day in and day out, that our feet have become less adaptive to varied surfaces over time. Walking barefoot gives your brain much better input about your immediate environment and can even help with balance."

Apply Heat

Unless your foot discomfort results from surgery or injury (meaning it's acute), you always treat chronic pain with heat. "With heat, you'll see more of an improvement [over ice] as it dilates the blood vessels and relaxes the foot," explains Lee. For even deeper penetration, consider using an infrared heating pad or device.

Apply a CBD Topical

Lee says oral CBD products can be hit or miss with patients looking to alleviate foot pain. "When taken orally, CBD can make you tired," she explains, adding that CBD has a relaxing effect on the system. She advocates using a topical CBD salve or roll-on to circumvent this issue. "Treating the entire foot with CBD can get expensive, so it's better for focal foot pain."

Apply a Transdermal Gel

Yoo typically doesn't recommend taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory for foot pain. "I usually don't advise unless I've checked in with their physician to make sure there aren't any other meds that might have an adverse response with over-the-counter anti-inflams," he says.  

As an alternative, Lee suggests applying a transdermal non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), called diclofenac. This medicine has only recently become available without a prescription and is now available over-the-counter. Transdermal application bypasses the GI system and lets you treat the pain focally.