by Joel Cordle
- What is Plantar fasciitis?
Although it is hard to pronounce, plantar fasciitis is a very common cause for pains felt in the feet, particularly the heels. It is defined as the inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes.
Plantar fasciitis is associated with the stabbing pain felt during one’s first few steps in the morning. The pain would usually decrease if your foot has limbered up, but can return especially after standing or sitting for long periods of time. This is more common to runners, soldiers, middle-aged, overweight, and those who wear shoes that don’t support the feet properly.
- A number of factors that can cause Plantar Fasciitis
Some factors include the following:
– Repetitive foot activities
This condition is mostly experienced by runners and soldiers, and those whose jobs involve too much moving of the feet or extended periods of standing and walking.
– Old age
People whose ages are from 40 to 70 are at a much higher risk, most especially if they are also constantly on the move.
– Bad shoe choices
Choosing the wrong type of shoes can also cause you to develop this condition, as shoes play an important role for your heels and the muscles around it. The wrong shoes may cause inflammation or strains on the heels.
More factors will be discussed in the later part of this article.
- Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
This condition is characterized by hot and sharp sensation in the heels. It is usually noticed first thing in the morning after you’ve taken your first few steps. The pain will disappear after walking for some time, but it can return again, and you’ll feel pain in the centre of the heels especially if you rested for a while and resumed your activities.
- What are the factors that may increase the risk of Plantar Fasciitis?
There are lots of factors that can contribute to the risk of getting Plantar fasciitis on the feet. Here are few of them:
– Too much weight load on the foot (can be due to obesity or standing for long periods of time)
– Mechanical imbalances in the feet
– Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
– Sudden weight increase (e.g., pregnancy)
– Tight calf muscles
– Too much running and sitting
– Wearing flip-flops or shoes that provide poor support
Pain can also be caused by the shortening of the plantar fascia, which can happen due to ankle bending or every time the foot is flexed (pointed) for extended periods of time.
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How to prevent it?
To reduce your risk of getting Plantar fasciitis, you should follow these tips carefully:
– Wear the right shoes
It’s too bad if you need to wear high heels especially if your job needs you to walk or run back and forth, as that will irritate tension and cause sprints, which may lead to Plantar fasciitis.
– Exercise
If you are exercising now and then, the muscles in your legs will be firmer and be more developed. Exercising also helps a lot in cutting down fats in your body.
– Healthy diet
If you make sure that you are getting the right amounts of vitamins and minerals by eating healthy foods, you are avoiding obesity, which is one factor for the risk of getting Plantar fasciitis.
- Treatments for the recovery of Plantar Fasciitis
For this condition, you have two choices: non-surgical and surgical intervention.
Non-surgical
– Medications
– Exercises
– Adequate rest
– Physiotherapy (i.e. Ice therapy)
– Use the right kind of shoes
Surgical
– Plantar fascia release
- Feet remedies you can try at home to relieve pain
If you are suffering from Plantar fascia, there are several home feet remedies you can try to somehow ease the pain brought by the said condition. A simple massage can do wonders for the pain, and you can also apply ice to the affected area.
To avoid getting this condition which involves severe pain in the heels, the best thing you can do is to prevent the risk by living a healthy life and making sure you don’t do anything that might pose as a factor for you to develop that condition.
