Body pains from overexertion is a common issue that most nurses face, especially after long shifts. The combination of standing for extended periods of time, coupled with having to exert your strength for tasks such as helping patients sit up, or turning them on their side to administer treatments, can definitely wreak havoc on your body. But hey, these things come with the territory; most nurses simply disregard the pain and simply keep on keeping on.

However, while some issues in the workplace are unavoidable, it doesn’t mean that the consequences they cause on the body have to be. There are many ways to avoid foot and leg pain associated with long shifts and entire workdays of standing and walking around the hospital. For instance, by exercising and strengthening your body, you can reduce the strain on your body from standing all day; a stronger core and legs make you more suited for long work days.

However, while cardio and strength exercises are definitely great for preventing further foot and leg pain from your work, it won’t help for improving whatever pain you might be experiencing from this point. With that being said, here are some awesome natural remedies that you can use to improve the pain in your legs and feet.

Use Appropriate Footwear

And we’re not talking about not going to work in heels; that much should be obvious!

Did you know that there are different types of feet? Some of us have different types of arches that require alternative support from our footwear, and failure to address these differences could result in several ailments, including plantar fasciitis, corns and calluses from putting too much pressure on certain parts of your feet, or even painful heel spurs. In this sense, it’s important to always know what type of feet we have, and buy only appropriate footwear for our condition.

You can find out what type of arch you have by visiting a sports footwear store, or by checking in with a podiatrist. Because your footwear will naturally wear down through prolonged use, it’s important to replace them every 6 or so months, or sooner depending on the amount of use you give them. Remember to check the shoe’s arch support every once in a while to see how it’s holding up; if the shoe is turning a bit flat on the inside, it might be time to replace them with a new pair.

Shed Some Pounds

While exercises can definitely help strengthen our body and prepare it for the long work days to come, they are especially important for those with a few extra pounds. If you spend most of your day walking or standing around the hospital, the strain on your feet will be tremendous. Also, if you’re overweight, this exertion could even be doubled, and you might even develop conditions from overexertion.

Make sure to mix in some cardio with your strength training to keep a slim and toned body, and reduce the strain from the daily grind.

Relieve the Pain with Epsom Salt

If you’re suffering from severe foot pain from overexertion, you could combine some OTC medication, such as NSAIDs, with some home remedies to speed up the healing process. Specifically, one of these natural methods for relieving foot pain consists of dipping your feet in a warm bath with a few tablespoons of Epsom salt. This magnesium-based compound is excellent for relieving local pain and inflammation when soaked into the body in a warm bath. A short 20-minute soak should be enough for improving most of the pain.

Foot Massages

One of the problems that originate from straining your feet comes from poor circulation due to tightened tissues. By massaging your feet, you can effectively loosen tissues, improving the blood flow to your feet, and relieving foot pain. However, make sure to rub thoroughly or else you might cause additional problems due to excess cramping, especially when your feet are exceptionally tired. Feel free to add some herbal oils to the massages as some of them have medicinal properties that can further increase the benefits from the rub-down.

Add Some Cherries to Your Diet

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests cherries work wonders when it comes to relieving foot pain and inflammation. Not only that but the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry released a statement claiming that, by adding around 10 cherries to your daily diet, you are consuming between 82 and 297 milligrams of anthocyanins, which are substances that have antioxidant properties. These antioxidants can help relieve inflammation and symptoms of natural aging, including joint pain, and the pain that results from overexertion.