This is a sponsored post on behalf of Responsival. All thoughts are my own.

As a forty-year-old, I can say with confidence that one of the hardest things about getting older is learning how to navigate bodily aches and pains. I'm a mom to three children who range in age from two to thirteen. The things I used to be able to do with ease when my oldest was a toddler are now a bit more difficult for me to do with my current toddler. Through the years, I have tried my best to maintain an active lifestyle through walking, aerobic exercise, and even Pilates, but over the past two years, my time for anything 'extra' has really dwindled.

The ailments of my relatives that I knew would one day also affect me have started to show their presence, and I'm less than thrilled to have to deal with those. I have my own injury-induced joint pains, pains from toting a toddler, and the early stages of arthritis which plague me daily. I often think back to some of the problems my grandmothers had- with knees, with feet, making it difficult and painful to walk at times. My Dad has trouble with his feet after being on them for 12+ hour work days, so my mother and I have spent a lot of time researching ways to help alleviate some of that foot pain.

If you're dealing with foot pain or aching feet, here are some things you can do.

Soak your feet

At the end of the day, soak your feet in a basin filled with warm water and Epsom salt. This is actually one of the top things doctors recommend for aching feet. Use regular Epsom salt, rather than those infused with lavender or other essential oils. I learned the hard way that using salts with oils can cause great pain in any type of scrape or open wound. Soak for about 10-15 minutes, and repeat daily, or even multiple times a day if you can do so.

Wear insoles

It's an extra step to take when getting ready for the day, but adding insoles to your footwear can make a huge difference and decrease the pain you're experiencing in your feet, legs, back, hips, etc. It's actually pretty amazing how much tweaking your foot support can do for the alignment of your body. There are so many different types of insoles, such as metatarsalgia insoles, which are best to use if you are experiencing ball of foot pain. Getting the proper support in your shoes will help so much, and this is usually an inexpensive step to take in getting some immediate relief.

Get fitted for proper shoes

Many shoe stores can actually take full measurements of your feet and get you properly fitted for shoes based on size and shape. One of the best things my husband ever did was to allow one of his favorite stores to take his foot measurements and get fitted for the right types of shoes for the shape of his feet. Ever since he did this, he now knows which brands and types of shoes are best for his feet in terms of support. I resisted a particular brand of sandals for a long time (because I didn't like the way they looked), but after being gifted a pair last Christmas and wearing them, I quickly changed my tune. The added support made a huge difference in the level of knee pain that I had been experiencing for so long. After wearing these sandals, I could hardly tell that my knee was even bothering me.

Go for function over fashion

This one is so hard for me. I love shoes and have spent years collecting gorgeous, fashionable footwear. The truth is, most of the shoes and boots I have are horrible for my feet. They look amazing, but squish my toes, and offer zero support. It doesn't mean you have to give up fashionable shoes. There are actually tons of footwear brands that look great and cater to those who need or want more supportive shoes. Vionic is one of my favorite brands for cute, supportive shoes.

As with any ailment, seeing your doctor and getting a proper diagnosis should always be your first step.

Hopefully, these tips will help if you're like me, and are experiencing foot/knee pain.