If you are in the 10% of Americans estimated to suffer from plantar fasciitis, then this article is for you. The heel pain that you are experiencing is the result of damage to your plantar fascia – the thick ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot. It’s likely that small tears have developed and the ligament has become inflamed. If your heel pain is at its worst first thing in the morning or after standing still for a long period of time, this is because your plantar fascia has become tighter due to lack of movement. So what can you do about improving your condition and getting rid of your heel pain once and for all? Here are some points to get your started:
- If you are suffering from a particularly acute outbreak then you’ll need to put some time aside to rest your food and apply ice to bring the inflammation down.
- Get hold of a pair of plantar fasciitis splints to wear at night time. These are designed to stretch the plantar fascia gently. This should hopeful relieve some of the pain as well as ensure that the ligament does not tighten during the night exacerbating the condition.
- Visit a registered podiatrist and ask them about plantar fasciitis shoes. These are specially designed orthotic shoes that ensure proper foot alignment, arch and heel support as well as the proper distribution of weight across the foot. If you would prefer to keep wearing your existing shoes, consider purchasing a set of orthotic inserts – look at the Walkfit Platinum brand for example – that you can slip into your shoes.
- If you are in a profession that requires a great deal of standing – the police force, teaching and nursing are examples – then make every effort to incorporate some walking into your day to day activities. If you are a construction worker, try to avoid carrying excessive weights while you are recovering. Try to loose weight if you have a high body mass index as overweight people are at a higher risk of developing the foot disorder. If you are a runner make sure your footwear is designed correctly – check out the orthotic brands of footwear – with soles that offer a good level of shock absorption.
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