Plantar fasciitis is a rather common condition that can affect a wide range of people. Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes sharp pain to be experienced in the heel when you walk or stand on the foot. Three treatment options for plantar fasciitis are to get into shape, wear a splint, and wear the proper footwear.
Get Into Shape
Since the cause of plantar fasciitis is excess strain on the ligament connecting your heel and toes, any excess weight placed on the foot can lead to this condition. The ligament runs along the arch of your foot and is called the plantar fascia.
Some of the people that are most at risk are overweight and middle-aged individuals. Overweight people are prone to plantar fasciitis because all of the extra weight is causing pressure to build on your feet, which can cause the plantar fascia to become weak and strained. Middle-aged and elderly individuals are also prone to this condition because over the years they may have spent too much time on their feet.
In either case, simple exercises can be utilized in order to help with the pain. Simply dieting and exercising to lose weight is a big help since every pound lost is one less pound that will be putting pressure on the plantar fascia. For older individuals who are not overweight, exercises that stretch and strengthen the Achilles tendon and arches of your feet can alleviate or eliminate the pain.
Wear a Splint
Another great option for treating plantar fasciitis is to sleep with a splint on your leg and foot. The splint is designed to keep your arches and foot stretched out all night.
The reason this is so effective is because many people with this condition will often experience pain as soon as they get out of bed, but the pain will begin to fade after the muscles in the foot have loosened up. The splint also has the added benefit of strengthening the arches of your feet over time because your foot will remain stretched all night.
Wear The Proper Footwear
Finally, this condition is very common in athletes. Runners specifically are prone to pain due to a strained plantar fascia.
One of the most common reasons for athletes to damage the plantar fascia is because they are not utilizing the proper footwear. For example, an individual that runs a lot with weak arches and shoes that do not properly support the arches will severely damage the plantar fascia over time.
In addition, running can strain the tendons in your feet because the foot is experiencing an impact repeatedly as you run. If you are running with shoes that do not have proper support, or old shoes, these repeated impacts can cause severe damage to the arches of your feet, the Achilles tendon, and the plantar fascia.
See your doctor today if you are experiencing heel and foot pain that you believe may be related to plantar fasciitis. By getting into shape, wearing the proper footwear, and utilizing a splint you can help alleviate the pain and symptoms associated with this condition.
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