Plantar fasciitis, that common foot condition that afflicts 1 in 10 Americans at some point in their lifetime, is a treatable disease that requires the patience and perseverance of the afflicted person in sticking to the recommended therapeutic measures. A plantar fasciitis treatment plan uses a combination of several different modalities that all work together to bring relief from the pain and swelling that accompany this disease. Before we go into the various forms of treatment for plantar fasciitis, let us first go into the background of this debilitating condition that affects a person's activities and limits his mobility.
Plantar fasciitis: What and WhyPlantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia which is a stretch of ligament that runs under the foot, from the heel to the arch. The inflamed fascia becomes painful and swollen, bringing discomfort to the sufferer and preventing him or her from fully engaging in the usual daily activities.
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia is repeatedly exposed to small injuries. Injuries may be brought about by the following stressors:
You walk, run or stand for prolonged periods, especially if the activity is done on hard surfaces. This applies mostly to runners and other athletes, soldiers and policemen, and factory workers who have to stand for extended times.You are overweight or have a sudden weight gain, such as in pregnancy.You are wearing shoes that do not fit properly or are worn out, thus incapable of providing adequate heel and arch support.If your calf and Achilles tendon are too tight, thereby limiting your ankle’s flexibility and making the fascia more prone to injury.Your arch is too high or you have flat feet.Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Pain localized at the bottom of the heel is the key symptom of plantar fasciitis. The most common site is that area about 4 cm forward from the heel, under the foot.
The pain is worst first thing in the morning, upon waking up. It subsides gradually as the day progresses and turn into a dull ache. It may recur suddenly after a long walk or prolonged standing.
Swelling of the heel is present, but not in all cases.
Conservative Treatment Plan for Plantar FasciitisMost cases of plantar fasciitis respond well to conventional methods of treatment. However, there is no miracle treatment that will cure the condition immediately. Even if there is relief from the pain and swelling soon after, total cure can take from three months to a year. Hence, it is important to maintain regular therapeutic measures if you want to see positive results from them. The simple but effective treatments for plantar fasciitis are:
Rest Your Feet - Refrain from doing the activities that have put a strain on your feet and give them sufficient rest. Put your feet up constantly to ease the swelling that an inflamed plantar fascia brings.Proper Footwear, Heel Pads, Arch Support and Night Splints - Replace ill-fitting and worn out shoes with ones that cushion your heel and provide arch support. There are also heel pads and orthotic insoles for the arches and night splints that can be worn during the night while you are sleeping to prevent the contraction of the fascia. Over the Counter Medications - Paracetamol, ibuprofen and coxibs are some of the effective over the counter medications that heel pain conditions can be treated with. They help alleviate the agony that heel pain sufferers are undergoing.Stretches to Strengthen the Muscles - Stretching and gentle exercises help release tension in the plantar fascia ligament and ease the symptoms of pain and swelling. Here are plantar fasciitis stretches that can loosen up a tight Achilles tendon and calf muscles.Standing Calf Stretch - Stand about 16 inches away and facing the wall and put your hands on the wall at level with your shoulders, feet slightly apart. Put one foot a step in front of the other, keeping the back knee straight. Then bend the front knee and lean towards the wall to stretch. The calf muscle of the back leg should tighten. Hold for 15 to 20 seconds, and then relax. Repeat 10 times and do the same with the other calf. Perform this stretch twice a day.Seated Foot Stretch - Sit on the floor with your legs close together and stretched in front of you. Roll a towel lengthwise and place the middle part around the ball of one foot with your hands holding the ends of the towel. Pull the towel slowly towards you while you keep your knee straight. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times. Do the same for the other foot. Perform this exercise once daily.
Surgery for plantar fasciitis may be considered in extremely complex cases, when the conservative methods do not work even after a year or so of application. Since there are a lot of possible complications to surgery, such as damage to the neighboring nerves, infection or rupture to the plantar fascia, this is only done as a last resort.
Plantar fasciitis need not cramp your lifestyle. There are many plantar fasciitis treatment options that work effectively to speed up healing times and get you back on your feet as early as possible.
View the Original article
No comments:
Post a Comment