These days, at-home workout options like Peloton indoor cycles can be lifesavers when it comes to staying physically healthy, as well as working off anxiety. But if you’re new to at-home cycling and other home gym equipment — or just prone to overdoing it — you may be dealing with the kind of foot pain you’ve never experienced before.
Foot Pain and Workouts
If the arches of your feet have begun aching, or you have stabbing pain on your soles when you first get up, plantar fasciitis may be the culprit. You’re also more likely to feel this condition when you’re done with your workout, rather than during the session itself.
Sometimes people develop arch pain because of their own physiological traits that influence how feet absorb impact and flex. These factors might include ankles that turn inward or uneven leg lengths, as well as either flat feet or high arches. When any of these are combined with the repetitive flexes needed for Peloton sessions, jogging or other workouts, small tears can begin to form in the band of tissue on the sole of your feet running from your toes to your heel.
Treatment Options
Often, simple rest and some over-the-counter anti-inflammatories may be all you need in order to recover from foot pain associated with home workout equipment. A simple exam, perhaps combined with an X-ray, can often reveal the extent of treatment needed.
Additional options include having custom orthotics made to wear with your workout shoes or with regular footwear (depending on when you feel the pain). Physical therapy and nighttime splints can help. Or you may find that learning simple stretching moves which you can do at home is the best way to speed your recovery.
If these measures don’t work, cortisone injections can often help ease pain. For the most serious cases, surgery is an option.
Additional Tips
Along with the immediate medical treatment of your foot pain, a few additional measures may also prevent future discomfort.
Switch up Your Sport
If you’ve been cycling on a Peloton, consider trying yoga, or taking walks on nice days. On the other hand, if you’re a jogger, an indoor cycle might give your feet muscles some relief from the high-impact activity.
Ice More Frequently
For chronic problems such as plantar fasciitis, icing at least three times is recommended. This home treatment helps keep swelling down, as well as numb the pain.
Consider Other Lifestyle Changes
Extra pounds can put more stress on your feet and make chronic problems worse. That’s why cutting calories might also be a good idea — especially if your doctor has told you to ease off on exercise during a recovery period.
Don’t Let Foot Pain Stop Your New Healthy Lifestyle!
Whether your condition calls for inserts in your workout shoes or a more aggressive approach, there is a solution to your foot pain! Plantar fasciitis and other stress injuries don’t have to keep you away from the workouts that are so important to you.
Call Sweeney Foot and Ankle Specialists today for an appointment. We’ll talk to you about your symptoms and your lifestyle, as well as conducting an exam. That way, we can recommend custom inserts, foot exercises, or additional medical options.We’re conveniently located, with offices in The Woodlands and Magnolia, Texas.
