Plantar Fasciitis – What is it and what to do about it
Your Content Goes Here There are many different moving joints and muscles in our feet but when the bottom of our foot or heel becomes painful this is usually a sign of plantar fasciitis. When this kind of foot pain strikes, we usually notice it right away and hope that it goes away quickly because with each step we feel it. We don't want foot pain interfering with our ability to walk or enjoy other activities. Plantar fasciitis can either be short lived (acute) or can become chronic if not addressed early on. It is caused by inflammation that sets into the plantar fascia (a big ligament) in the bottom of our foot. This can be due to immobility or sometimes an old foot injury such as a sprain or strain that doesn't heal properly. The plantar fascia attaches to our heel bone (calcaneus) and wraps around it to form the Achilles tendon on the back of our ankle. Pain from plantar fasciitis can even be related to problems with these structures. Sometimes the calf muscle and Achilles tendon are the source of the problem. They can become tight which can pull on the plantar fascia and throw off foot mechanics causing the pain on the bottom of the foot. What Causes It? At its root, plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia. This is typically caused by poor foot mechanics. Poor foot mechanics can be a result of immobility (i.e. wearing boots all day at work and standing on concrete floors) or muscles and joints that are not moving the way they should. When muscles and joints are not moving properly in any part of the body it can lead to pain and problems that creep up without warning. Usually this is from some sort of overuse or old injury to the area that never healed properly. Once inflammation sets in the bottom of the foot, it can be very difficult to get rid of it because we are always using our feet. How Do You Treat It? The good news is that if you have plantar fasciitis there are many treatment options for this painful condition. The other good news is that many of the recommendations for plantar fasciitis can be performed at home with simple items you have around your house. The first step is to reduce inflammation, so using ice will be most helpful. It is best to freeze a water bottle and then take it out, place it on the floor and roll the bottom of your foot over it for 10 - 15 minutes. Stretching is also something that will need to be implemented if you wish to solve plantar fasciitis. Calf stretching should be performed regularly as well as stretching the bottom of your foot. This can be accomplished by grabbing your toes, bending them backward while also bending your ankle upward. Think toes to nose, while using your hand to bend your foot and hold the [...]