Dealing with Plantar Fasciitis

Answer 1

Plantar fasciitis is a physical condition that millions of people deal with around the world on a daily basis. In fact, there are many trainers and doctors who consider plantar fasciitis to be among the most common conditions their clients are faced with. While it is a very common thing for runners and walkers to go through, this doesn't mean that it shouldn't be taken seriously when it crops up. To put it simply, plantar fasciitis is a strain of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is the tissue that connects the ball of your foot to the heel and can be felt under the skin. When placed under sudden or prolonged strain, the plantar fascia can become strained and tighten up. This leads to inflammation on the arch of the foot and is one of the most common causes of heel pain in the country. Fast-paced early morning walks are one common way in which people develop this painful inflammatory condition. The muscles and tendons in the feet need to be given time to limber up after a night of sleep. When they are not allowed to limber up, they can be put under a significant amount of strain fairly quickly. Even a short burst of speed to catch the subway to work can leave you with a throbbing pain in your foot. Marathon runners often suffer from plantar fasciitis for a number of reasons. The continued strain of running over many miles can cause an inflammation in the feet. This is why many trail runners are advised to not walk on asphalt after a long run. The significant change in the "give" of the land beneath their feet can engender further inflammation and make plantar fasciitis even worse. Runners are generally encouraged to let their feet rest after a long run and to use compression socks to increase circulation. To avoid getting plantar fasciitis, feet should be properly stretched before any physical activity. This is true even if you are only walking a small distance to a bus stop or up a few flights of stairs. Keeping your feet limber is absolutely the best way to avoid the pain of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is thankfully not a dangerous or an altogether debilitating condition on its own. Persistent plantar fasciitis could be indicative of further issues, so you should contact your doctor if the condition does not go away or if it worsens.