Do you know that your foot can actually fall asleep? This can be caused by poor blood supply, among others. Learn more about this condition in the rest of this post, and more importantly, we’ll list down the best ways on how to wake up your foot.
Your foot falls asleep when you experience a condition known as paresthesia. This makes you feel like as if needles are pinning your foot. This can be caused by sleeping nerves or standing and sitting for a long time. Pay attention to the solutions mentioned below to prevent this in the future.
How to Wake Up Your Foot
Your blood and your nerves are the main culprits for a sleeping foot. Beyond these, however, there are other factors that can be blamed. Regardless of these external conditions, below are some of the best solutions that you might want to consider.
1. Move your Legs
One of the most common reasons why you have an asleep foot is because of paralysis in your legs, which is due to having the same position for an extended period. If you have crossed your legs for a long time, this causes the circulation to be cut, and hence, for your foot to sleep.
A simple solution is to shift your leg to the opposite direction or simply move it. By doing this, the pressure will be removed from the asleep foot. Blood flow will no longer be constricted and your nerves will finally have the room to breathe.
2. Stand Up
This is another quick solution that will prove to be effective in waking up your sleeping foot. If you have been sitting for a long time, your nerves may have been constricted, and hence, this can impair the amount of blood that travels all the way to your foot.
When you stand up, the pinched nerves can finally have more room. Before you stand up, you can try making circular motions with the affected foot. Slowly stretch your calf and stand up from where you are sitting. By this time, blood circulation can return to normal.
3. Wear the Right Shoe
Morton’s neuroma can develop if you are wearing shoes that are too tight. This can lead to constant pressure in your forefoot, which would often affect your third and fourth foot. Some of the most common symptoms include tingling and numbness, which are all indicative of a sleeping foot.
By wearing shoes that are bigger, your nerves will be able to breathe properly. Aside from being not too tight, it is also important to choose footwear that will provide a tight grip of the heel, support the arches, and give the toes enough room to wiggle.
4. Take a Walk
Again, as it has been mentioned above, you may be experiencing a sleeping foot because of being in a stagnant position for a long time. When in the same position for a prolonged period, you are hindering the blood to flow properly on where it should be heading.
When walking, however, it is important to make sure that this is done gradually. Do not do this all of a sudden as this can put too much pressure on the foot. As a result, this can only worsen the pain. Worse, you might also lose balance because your foot is still numb.
5. Massage your Foot
Another excellent solution on how to wake up your foot is through a deep tissue massage. By simply rubbing the muscles, you can ease the pinched nerves and bring back proper circulation. This will be relaxing.
There are some people who experience headache after a massage. One thing that we can recommend is fluid intake. By being hydrated, you can get rid of the toxins in the body, which will help in the full restoration of the physical strength of your foot and to get rid of pins and needles.
You do not need the help of a professional therapist to massage your foot. Here is a short video clip telling you exactly how to do it the right way:
6. Have a Warm Foot Bath
Just like massage, a warm foot bath can also be effective. Because a sleeping foot can be caused by pinching nerves in your legs or calves, a relaxing bath can be a promising solution, which can be more effective when complemented with massage.
Do not simply soak your foot in water. For the best outcomes, we suggest that you do this by combining Epsom salt in warm water. It will alleviate pain, ease tension, and improve circulation, all of which will be effective in waking up your foot.
7. Try Yoga
This is not one thing that can provide immediate relief, but more of a prevention rather than an instant cure. It is effective in improving your energy flow and blood circulation. Yoga can also improve the flexibility of the legs, which, in turn, can prevent a sleeping foot.
When trying yoga for the first time, you might experience soreness in the different parts of the body. There is no need to worry. This is one thing that is pretty normal. The good thing is that after a while, it will be relieved and you will notice an improvement.
8. Try Acupuncture
Similar to yoga, acupuncture is also a preventive measure. For thousands of years, the use of needles pinned in the right pressure points has proven to be effective in bringing a number of health benefits.
During your acupuncture sessions, even if your complaint deals with an asleep foot, do not be surprised if the needles will be placed in different parts of the body. They can be distant from the foot, yet they can ensure improvement of blood circulation in the entire body.
9. Consult with a Medical Professional
Do you frequently experience an asleep foot? Is the pain being too much for you to tolerate? Is it negatively affecting your productivity? If you believe that the condition just keeps on worsening despite following the suggestions above, see a doctor as soon as possible.
When you visit a doctor, you will be asked about your family and medical history, which is one way to pinpoint the exact problem. Blood tests can also be conducted, especially checking your blood glucose to be sure that it is not related to any serious medical condition.
Conclusion
An asleep foot is a common problem experienced by many people. It can be uncomfortable, painful, and can cause you to not function normally. With this, it is important to know how to wake up your foot. Follow the suggestions above, and for sure, it won’t take long before you will be relieved.
Did you enjoy reading this post? Have you learned something? Have you tried anything that proved to be effective in waking up an asleep foot? Feel free to leave a comment below and let us help other people who often suffer from this condition.
I like the acupuncture treatment for foot.