Plantar Fasciitis And 3 Ways To Decrease Pain Caused By It
With 2 million people being treated for it each year, plantar fascists is the most common type of foot pain. Here is more information about plantar fasciitis and three ways to decrease the pain caused by it.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
The thin ligament that lies just underneath the skin on the bottom of the foot is called the plantar fascia. This ligament is responsible for supporting the arch in your foot. When it gets strained, it is called plantar fasciitis, which causes a lot of pain, especially in the heel. Here are three ways to help decrease pain caused by plantar fasciitis.
Wearing Proper Footwear
If you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, and you spend a lot of time on your feet, you'll need to wear proper footwear. Many companies specialize in making boots and shoes that help to reduce pain caused by this disorder. If you're looking for the proper footwear, here are some things you'll want to look for:
- The right amount of arch support
- Extra cushioning
- The heel aptly absorbs shock
- Plenty of wiggle room for your toes
- A sole that gradually bends and offers some resistance
A podiatrist may be able to recommend certain brands of footwear. They may also suggest getting foot orthotics that get inserted into the shoe. Custom-made orthotics might also be another option.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can provide hands-on therapy that includes mobilization of the deep soft tissue to the heel and calf. When this method gets combined with stretching the arch and the calf, it can help to decrease short-term and long-term foot pain. While physical therapy is often done by the hands of a manual physical therapist, the patient can do them at home after they learn how to do it. An object, such as a ball or foam roller, can also be used instead of the hands. Other types of treatment that may prove to be effective in decreasing pain caused by plantar fasciitis are weight bearing exercises.
Surgical Treatment
If you have been receiving treatment for a year, and the pain still persists, two types of surgery may be able to help:
- Gastrocnemius recession - a type of surgery in which the calf muscles get lengthened
- Plantar fascia release - in order to relieve tension in the tissue, the plantar fascia ligament gets partially cut
If you suspect you have plantar fasciitis, or any other type of foot pain, it is highly recommended to see a podiatrist, like one from Laurel Podiatry Associates, LLC, for a proper diagnosis.
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