| Help, my feet are killing me! |
Thousands of people work 10-14 hours a day on their feet, many suffering with pain in their feet. Are you one of these sufferers? Have you been told it could be plantars fasciitis? This is one of the most common complaints that I hear.
What is plantars fasciitis? The official medical definition: Tearing, excessive stretching, and/or inflammation of the plantar fascia (a tough, fibrous band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot with attachments to the heel bone and to the base of the toes).
How do you know if you have it? Do you have pain in the medial (inner) aspect of the heel, where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel bone? Is your pain typically worse in the morning with the first steps of the day? Once the fascia contracts during the night, the first steps of the day will cause the fascia to be stretched, resulting in pain.
According to WebMD help is available. Here are some treatments that may help. Try massaging (a tennis ball may be useful) and stretching (Heel, Calf) of the plantar fascia and calf muscle. Decrease pronation problems with proper shoes and orthotics. Wear arch supports. But most importantly as with any orthopedic injury, a consultation with a sports medicine professional is recommended.
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