Plantar Fasciitis is a big fancy name for a very simple yet sometimes very painful condition. The plantar fascia is connective tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes and thus creates the arch for the foot. When this fascia becomes inflamed and irritated it is called Plantar Fasciitis.
The pain from this condition sometimes starts out mild and then gets progressively worse with more use or stress on the already overworked ligaments. Its normally felt in the heel, the arch, and sometimes into the achilles, toes, and calf muscle.
Causes:
- Higher than normal arches or flat feet
- Wearing shoes that don’t fit or are worn out
- Walking or standing for long periods of time on hard surfaces
- Feet that roll inwards too much while walking or in weight bearing positions
- Tight calf muscles or tight achilles tendon
Lets face it, your feet are important!! Not being able to walk, stand, run errands, or chase after your kids just isn’t an option. If you or a loved one is suffering from Plantar Fasciitis use the following tips to help alleviate the pain and get you back on your feet again.
- Rest your feet and slow down on the activities that irritate them
- Try a new pair of shoes that are more comfortable and stable for your feet especially shoes with a good arch support
- Use ice to reduce redness and swelling
- Calf stretches and toe stretches help to loosen overworked muscles and ligaments
- Orthotics have shown to take the pressure off of the arch to reduce pain while wearing them
- Gentle chiropractic care and laser pain relief have proven to be very effective in the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
Please feel free to contact me with any of your specific questions or concerns!
