Don’t Let The Heat Make You Uncomfortable. Beat Aches And Niggles With Expert-Approved Hacks
With summer into autumn days continuing to bring evenings spent outside enjoying what warmer weather we have left before the winter, there is one slight pitfall: swollen, painful feet and legs.
Interesting new research by Deep Freeze[1] – the cooling, iconic and time-tested muscle and joint care topical range – has found that 46% of Brits say warmer temperatures affects their lower legs and feet, leaving them with aches and pains that can even make it difficult to walk!
In fact:
- 40% of Brits say they experience swollen feet
- 33% experience foot pain
- 25% suffer from toe pain
- 18% claim that they have to deal with swollen ankles
- Nearly a third (28%) find it hard to walk on their feet due to the pain.
Plus, a worrying two-thirds of people say that muscle pain affects their day-to-day life.
Clara Kervyn, Physiotherapist, Pilates, and Musculoskeletal specialist from the Deep Freeze expert hub says: “The swelling of feet due to the heat is known as heat oedema. Essentially, heat causes the blood vessels in your legs and feet to expand which leads to a buildup of fluid. And of course, gravity means more fluid heads down to the legs, ankles and feet, causing swelling.”[2]
Elyn Marwick, Personal Trainer, Coach & Functional Fitness Specialist who swears by the cooling, muscle and joint therapies from Deep Freeze adds: “We aren’t paying enough attention to our lower legs and feet. They essentially carry us throughout the day and we need to care for them so we can move comfortably.”
The new real-world Deep Freeze research also discovered that when it comes to foot pain, 50% feel it in the ankle, 38% in the sole of their feet and 34% in the arch.
Suffering from lower body pain? Here’s six tips including a quick, ice-cold solution…
#1. The benefits of cold therapy
“You might be familiar with placing a cold bag of peas onto swollen or inflamed joints or muscles. Well, there’s a good reason for it,” says Elyn Marwick.
“Cold application may decrease pain and normalise the blood flow, therefore reducing pain and swelling. Research has found that applying cold actually decreased the pain level of patients in a study and increased joint mobility,”[3] adds Elyn Marwick.
Need a 60-second aid for sore legs and feet that’s easy, practical and doesn’t involve raiding the freezer for frozen foods? Clara Kervyn recommends the Deep Freeze Glide-on Gel as a useful solution to soothe pain. “The Deep Freeze Glide-on Gel provides scientifically proven cooling action, helping to soothe joint and muscle aches in the legs, and feet and works just like ice, without any of the inconvenience of ice. It’s also ideal for on-the-go as it glides on easily, helping to alleviate muscle and joint soreness,[4] as well as being ideal for harder to reach places like the back of heels and knees as well as calves.”
A clinical trial at Stirling University[5] confirmed that Deep Freeze Cold Gel cools muscle tissue to a depth of 3cm and produces “significant” changes in blood flow. In turn this action is likely to help soothe joint aches.
All the products in the Deep Freeze range are non-medicinal, providing targeted, scientifically proven cooling and soothing relief, while being fast acting and providing a long lasting, cooling sensation.
Elyn Marwick adds: “The Deep Freeze Cold Gel works like ice and helps cool and soothe minor aches in muscles and joints. It’s easy to apply, and mess-free and is a useful addition in everyone’s first aid bag.”
Meanwhile, the new Deep Freeze Muscle Rescue Cold Spray is recommended by Clara Kervyn to use immediately after exercise to provide an instant burst of targeted cooling relief for minor aches in muscles and joints or past injury flare-ups. The no-fuss spray format allows application on hard-to-reach areas like the backs of legs, feet, and shoulders too; it means there’s no reason why we can’t target all areas where you have muscular and joint aches. NEW Deep Freeze Muscle Rescue Freeze spray also cares for our planet and as a result is housed in a new climate friendly aerosol containing 0% LPG.
#2. Focus on footwear
It might be time to take a look at the shoes you’re wearing. Particularly as 36% of Brits say that correct footwear helps most with lower leg pain.[6]
Elyn Marwick says: “When exercising, be sure that your footwear is suitable for your workout. For example, running trainers for runs, walks and high intensity exercise offer the support needed to cushion joints.
Clara Kervyn adds: “Supportive shoes are important, with around 1 cm of space at the end of the shoe as well as some space around the sides as our feet naturally expand in the heat. With heels, block heels are best, and when you can -at home for example – try to walk around barefoot and give feet a breather.”
An insole could also help as research[7] has found that customised insoles could help reduce foot pain.
#3. Take a seat
Been standing all day? It’s a potential recipe for sore legs and feet. Elyn Marwick explains: “Our lower body also needs a rest. If you can, raise your legs too, which will help reduce swelling.”[8] For added cooling relief, apply the Deep Freeze Cold Patch to legs and feet. This is scientifically proven to provide rapid cooling and soothing relief for up to three hours and mums-to-be can also use Deep Freeze Cold Patch.
#4. Try a foot bath
Give your feet and lower legs a real pamper with a foot bath. Fill a bucket or washing up bowl with warm water and if possible, add epsom salts. Allow these to dissolve before immersing your feet in the water. Stay here for 15 minutes and relax. Elyn Marwick reveals: “Research has found that salted warm water could reduce pain[9].”
#5. Master the massage
A foam roller can come in very useful when you’re suffering from aches and pain.
Foam rolling has been shown to help reduce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)[10] from exercise whilst percussive massage devices have been shown to help reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve muscle pain and flexibility.[11]
#6. Stretch it out
Been in shoes all day? Unwind, kick your shoes off and give your feet a well-earned stretch. Clara Kervyn explains: “Stretching throughout the day, particularly if you’re sat at a desk for much of the day, can help to relieve tight, tense muscles[12] and stiff joints.”
Rounding off, Clara Kervyn adds: “We all want to enjoy what remains of the warmer weather but it can have a big impact on our feet and legs, as the new research reveals. Putting your feet up when you can, stretching and using the Deep Freeze products, can really help to avoid pain and allow us to move comfortably every day.”
[1] Perspectus Global; 1,000 respondents aged between 18 and 60 polled. Summer 2024
[4] Get On Track For Good Health. NEW DEEP HEAT & DEEP FREEZE RESEARCH TRACKS HEALTH AND FITNESS page 13
[5] Hunter AM, et al. Influence of topically applied menthol cooling gel on soft tissue thermodynamics and arterial and cutaneous blood flow at rest. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2018.
[6] Deep Heat and Deep Freeze study –1,000 respondents aged between 18 and 60 polled online. Summer 2024