The plantar, which literally means “bottom of the foot”, is supported by a shock absorber called the fascia. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of this connective tissue. Generally, plantar fasciitis affects athletes and people over 40 years of age. The stabbing pain, which gradually gets better throughout the day as the fascia stretches out, will affect your ability to work and be active. Most people will compensate for this by distributing their weight elsewhere on the foot which can put your knees, hips and back at risk.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by excessive wear and tear on the fascia, which means the condition is arepetitive strain injury (RSI). Every time your foot strikes the ground your plantar fascia is stretched, when your heel lifts off the ground your plantar fascia experiences tension. Any extra tension coming from excessive training can result inoverstretching, inflammation and/or micro-tearing of the fascia at your heel, the weakest point.
Plantar fasciitis is considered a self-limiting condition, which means you can control the pain and the progression of the condition by making some simple changes to your lifestyle. For example, improper shoes such as high heels and training too hard too suddenly can put excessive strain on the plantar fascia. However, sometimes plantar fasciitis is related to other conditions like faulty foot mechanics such as being flat footed or having a high arch which affects the way you walk and run.
Other related conditions include arthritis, inflammation in the tendons in the bottom of your foot, heel spurs, and diabetes. There are higher occurrences of plantar fasciitis in those who have diabetes.
Treatments for plantar fasciitis are aimed at reducing inflammation, pain, increasing the fascia’s range of motion, and speeding recovery time. A speedy and effective recovery should be your highest priority, not only so you can return to a high level of performance, but also because prolonged injuries can lead to scar tissue and a higher risk of re-injury.
At the onset of plantar fasciitis immediate measures should be taken in order to avoid serious damage. Ignoring the symptoms, thinking they will go away naturally, and continuing with activities that cause foot pain will certainly lead to more serious problems in the future. In order to avoid serious plantar injuries try to maintain a strict regimen of cold compression after walking or running.
Plantar Fasciitis is a painful and debilitating condition that can stop you in your tracks. But have hope, with Plantar Fasciitis treatments from MendMeShop®, and a few steps in the right direction you can successfully treat the pain and stop it from coming back. You have the right tools and the right information, now it’s up to you to take action and get back on your feet again!
Plantar Fasciitis Treatments
Conservative treatments tend to be the best way to treat plantar fasciitis. However, it can take months to years to heal depending on your situation and commitment to treatment (6 weeks to 6 months or longer). To improve healing time and treat your pain naturally, cold compression therapy and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy™ are recommended.