If you experience extreme discomfort or pain on your heel, it could be caused by plantar fasciitis.
This disorder is a result of inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue running from the bottom of the heel to the toes.
Repetitive strain on the plantar fascia can produce micro-tears on the tissue and cause inflammation and pain.
You can overcome this debilitating foot disorder if you know how to treat plantar fasciitis.
Common causes of plantar fasciitis include physical activity such as walking and running, wearing shoes without adequate arch support, prolonged standing, excessive weight, and age.
The classic symptom of this foot disorder is intense heel pain that accompanies the first few steps in the morning or after resting.
The pain eases off with activity, but often comes back after prolonged weight-bearing activity.
The pain is usually felt in the heel, and may extend to the arch and even the balls of the foot.
There are several ways to treat plantar fasciitis successfully, and most patients completely recover from the disorder.
Below are a few treatment methods to alleviate the disorder.
1.
Wear shoes with arch support to prevent plantar fasciitis.
The shoes you wear must be well cushioned, comfortable and should be the right size.
Shoes that provide arch support not only help lessen the pain but also assist in the healing process.
2.
Use ice packs to reduce inflammation.
The ice will soothe the pain and alleviate the symptoms.
Dip your foot in a bucket filled with ice, or apply ice packs to your heel.
3.
Do stretching and strengthening exercises.
This includes wall stretches to increase flexibility of the calf muscles, and dynamic stretches such as rolling the arch of your foot over a tennis ball or tubular device.
Strengthen you foot muscles by doing toe taps or picking up marbles and coins with your toes.
4.
Use a night splint.
Splints will help keep your heel and calf in a stretched position, thus reducing heel pain the next day.
In addition, this device aids in the healing process.
5.
Orthotic devices are also used to treat plantar fasciitis.
An orthotic device is inserted inside the shoe to provide arch support.
Over-the-counter orthotics are available in drugstores and online.
They can also be custom-made especially for you.
6.
Surgery can be resorted to if non-invasive methods to treat plantar fasciitis are not successful.
This involves surgical release of the plantar fascia and has a 70% to 90% success rate in patients.