I bought myself a digital camera for Xmas, and probably have walked 25 miles in the last week trying to get good pictures of NYC. All that walking, and not wearing proper shoes has ravaged my feet. My arches hurt like a mofo. It’s a bitch because it hurts to walk. But I have something that has helped!
Take a raquet ball or tennis ball and roll it under your shoe-less foot. The ball has some give, and you can vary the pressure as you see fit. Getting a foot massage would accomplish the same thing, and if there are any gorgeous brunettes with good hip to waist ratios who like giving foot massages, PM me. That being unlikely, get the raquet ball. I think it all fits into the category of myofascial release, and its helped a great deal.
I would love to hear some feedback after somebody tries this.
BTW, this is something my pilates instructor showed me. If you have the means, I highly recommend one.
The athletic trainers at my school showed me the same thing but with a tennis ball. But I used it to help work any knots out of my back or hamstrings that were bothering me during camp. They also said that a golf ball would work a little better but would be much more painful. I personally stuck with the tennis ball and it worked pretty well. Granted it must have looked pretty strange rolling around on the floor in my dorm room with a tennis ball under me.
Thank you samdiesel! My mom felt tightness, pain, burning on the soles of her feet. She went in to the doctor’s for some bloodwork (soles burning worried me, I thought diabetes was the culprit). Everything came back negative, but she was diagnosed with plantar fasciatis. She was given and anti-inflammatory, but no other treatment. This sounds like it might help her. Thanks man!
And one more thing: You got this from your PILATES INSTRUCTOR?!?!? We need to have a little T-man talk !
This wouldn’t help so much with the feet, but try a foam roller as well as the tennis/raquet ball. I know there is an article somewhere in T-nation that describes different movements to use with the foam roller. It is awesome to use for tight IT Bands.
