Manuel Vidal, podiatrist: "Most people think the pain is in the foot, but often the real problem is in the calves."

Foot pain is one of the greatest ills of our society, due to the lifestyle that forces us to stand for hours or sit all day, among other bad habits for circulation. Sitting is also not good, as immobility causes fluid retention, inflammation , and shortening of certain muscles that later manifest themselves by "protesting."

It's no secret that our feet play a fundamental role in our body's structure, as they support the entire weight of our body (sometimes even our excess weight ) and must provide mobility in our sedentary lifestyles. Walking daily is an excellent way to keep blood circulation flowing, as are certain exercises that strengthen both the muscles in this area of ​​the body and the bones. However, what if your foot pain is coming from your calves?

This is the infallible technique to improve the health of your feet and avoid pain.

Podiatrist Manuel Vidal published an informative video on his social media, in which he echoes the popular belief that our foot pain is just that: in our feet. However, the expert warns that, in most cases where we detect discomfort in these extremities , the cause isn't there, but rather higher up.

"Luckily, podiatrists have a secret, simple exercise that will cure most foot problems, and I'm going to share it," Vidal begins. The key is to always stretch your calves, as a rule, and do it properly, holding the stretch for at least 30 or 40 seconds . "Let it hurt a little," Vidal says.

The expert continues explaining how to perform this basic, liberating exercise: "You can do it every two or three days; a single day isn't enough. To see any results, the minimum amount of time needed is a month ." Stretching your calves is essential for releasing accumulated tension, and you can do this by placing your feet against a wall or with the soles of your feet on the floor and bending your knees. The important thing is that you feel the joint stretching.

The foot pain exercise that makes a difference

Once we've patiently stretched our calves, the podiatrist shares his signature trick, the exercise he believes makes the difference: elevating the instep on a step , which strengthens and improves ankle mobility. "With this, we're going to combine strength with stretching."

"The trick is to go up quickly, come down more slowly, and hold the bottom position for as long as your joints allow for three or four seconds. This way, you'll work on the strength and flexibility of both your feet and your calves . Since everyone has shortened calves, it's almost certainly going to be helpful."

These two exercises suggested by the podiatrist are especially recommended for people who suffer from plantar fasciitis ; Morton's neuroma; pain in the heel or metatarsal bones; and frequently strained or even shortened calves .