Plantar Fasciitis, What’s That?

home remedy for plantar fasciitisThe plantar fascia is the ligament structure that runs along along the bottom and middle of the foot. This fibrous, strong band connects the heel bone with the toes. Plantar faschiitis is an inflammation to this fascia.

This very painful condition is perhaps better known as planter’s foot and it is being estimated that as much as 10% of the population in the US alone is in need of plantar fasciitis relief to some degree. Add to that an estimate of more than half a million US hospital visits yearly, a lot of pain and a huge amount of time away from work, and you will begin to understand the magnitude of this condition.

Symptoms

Recognized as the most common cause of pain found in the heel – the condition usually begins with an intermittent and dull pain in the foot arch or heel area. If left untreated it will eventually progress to a persistent, sharp and piercing pain. The symptoms may also occur spontaneous.

The pain is felt in particular after resting and sleeping, and it will in most cases disappear gradually with walking. As the fascia muscle contracts during the night, the patient will often have lots of pain after waking up in the morning.

The position the feet and ankles are held in as we sleep promotes cramping of the fascia and calf muscles. At night our feet are being pointed and the plantar fascia muscle is shortened (contracted) as a result of it.

The pain in the morning results from the sudden stretching and pulling of the muscle which have been shortened during the rest period.

Common plantar fasciitis causes

foot plantar fasciitis shoesPlanters foot is commonly caused by increased activities and too much strain of a repetitive nature – such as walking, running or standing on hard surfaces for longer periods of time.

Factors that may increase the likelihood of finding yourself in need of plantar faschiitis relief is increased age; considerable weight gain; feet with a flat structure or a high and rigid arch; walking or running with insufficient shoes/support to the feet for longer periods of time; a history of family members having the condition.

Treatment and cures

Even though the condition can be hard to treat in some cases, most patients will get rid of the problems by a couple of combined treatments and precautions.

If you need to walk or stand in your job – such as meter maids, police officers, factory workers etc. – really good shoes is a must. The same goes for athletes (runners) and people who like to jog or walk regularly.

extra-corporeal plantar fasciitisWeight control is a vital component, and the same is to make sure you get enough rest time from walking or standing. I’m quite confident that most employers today will find a way to help you combat this situation. If not then you probably need to think about changing jobs. Remember the saying: "If you continue doing what you do, you will get the same result as you’re having now."

A well documented treatment is to alternate between cooling the area with ice and using "heat", such as a warm foot bath. We will provide more precise information regarding this as we go along…

Proper stretching is also a treatment that has been beneficial to many. Your best bet is to get a set of exercises from your physiotherapist or doctor, or to purchase a manual showing these exercises in detail.

There are also non-steroidal, anti inflammatory drugs (such as Ibuprofen). These may help to diminish the pain. Proper massage of the affected area has also been helpful to many patients.

cryosurgery for plantar fasciitisFurthermore, there are special "night" splints you can use while sleeping or resting. These assist in giving a constant and gentle stretch of the plantar fascia. Also, it is possible to tape the foot or use special socks to give support during the day.

Which ever methods you decide to use, it is important to do them in accordance with a physician or other health professional. Also, you will likely need to keep at it for some time. If you start treatment early on you may get over the problems fast. However, it may also take considerable time to see any lasting results.

A brilliant guide to cure your heel pain is called: Plantar Fasciitis Secrets Revealed. Find out how this has helped others by clicking here.

More information can be found on the following pages: Plantar Fasciitis ReliefPlantar Fasciitis TreatmentChronic Plantar Fasciitis & ExercisePlantar Fasciitis Surgery & CurePlantar Fasciitis SplintShoes & Plantar Fasciitis RunningFoot Pain SymptomsPlantar Fasciitis OrthoticsFasciitis Treatment.

 

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