If you’re like many people, you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis pain that is so painful that it may hinder doing certain things in life. One of the most common foot ailments is plantar fasciitis pain. The discomfort can start as an annoying pain that you feel sometimes, and develop into a sharp pain that is felt every day. Sometimes, pain in the heel can go away on its own, but, if left untreated, heel pain can get very painful.
People can complain of heel pain in two main areas of the heel, under the heel and in the back of the heel. In most cases, when people suffer from pain in the back of the heel it is related to wear and tear or inflammation of the Achilles tendon. When people experience foot heel pain, it can be caused by a person stepping on a large stone or rock which bruises the heel, or it can be caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia. A heel that is injured by a sharp object will heal on its own over time. Nevertheless, if the foot pain is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, there are a few things that need to be done to help including plantar fascitis exercises and orthotics.
The soft tissue on the bottom of the foot, called the plantar fascia, connects the heel to the toes. Under normal conditions, the plantar fascia is a flexible and strong section of the foot that enables the foot to carry our weight and allows us to stay balanced. If the foot is under abnormal stress, such as excessive body weight, repetitive movements from sports, age or compromised foot function, it can create small tears in the plantar fascia. These microscopic tears typically develop near the heel bone, where they become swollen and cause pain. If this tissue is repeatedly stretched it can cause the creation of heel spurs. Heel spurs are boney growths on the heel that can cause much pain.
If you are feeling plantar fasciitis pain, a simple strategy to remove the stress on the fascia is to make use of orthotics and perform plantar fasciitis stretching exercises, that will strengthen the plantar fascia as well. One of the prescribed plantar fascitis exercises is to stretch the foot before getting out of bed. The Plantar Fascia will tighten during sleep, which causes the severe pain that people feel when they get out of bed. By stretching the foot arch before you put pressure on it, you can alleviate the pain you feel with your first morning steps. Another useful exercise for stretching out the plantar fascia is to roll a tennis ball or rolling pin with the arch of your foot. As this becomes less and less arduous you can try the same exercise in the standing position.
The next helpful thing to do is immediately put on a sturdy pair of shoes and orthotic shoe insoles. This will help to cushion and support the bottom of your foot and help to keep it from further injury. If you utilize the proper plantar fascitis exercises and orthotics, you will see a great improvement in your heel pain. You should really pay attention to your body and if you are aware of foot pain, see a doctor as soon as possible. This will ensure that your pain does not turn into a more serious problem.