Plantar Fasciitis
A disorder in the connective tissue that supports the arch of the foot is known as Plantar Fasciitis. This particular tissue is to support the muscles and the arch of the foot and when it gets overly stretched it further leads to occurring of tiny tears on the surface of the foot. The tear in the muscle can cause inflammation and pain in the foot.
Although, not known to many but approximately 10% of people are affected due to plantar fasciitis at some point or other in their life. The problem of plantar fasciitis is most common in women as compared to men. Individuals who are aged between 40 and 60 have the highest risk.
The symptoms are not very prominent and do not show up regularly so you need to check a few signs for yourself. One of the most common symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis is that it leads to stabbing pain in the foot while walking. You can self-diagnose it by going for a walk early in the morning. See if you feel a sharp and a striking pain while taking your first steps. It is a common disease found in runners and people who are overweight.
Some factors that could increase your risk of developing plantar fasciitis are:
Age
It is most common between the age of 40 and 60.
Foot Mechanics
If you are high-footed and have an abnormal pattern of walking then it is likely that you will suffer form Plantar Fasciitis.
Obesity
Those unwanted extra pounds on your body will put extra stress on your plantar fascia.
Occupations that will keep you on your feet
People doing jobs that requires them to run on their foot most of the time, end up damaging their plantar fascia.
Apart from this there are some general factors that could be triggering the problem of Plantar Fasciitis in people:
- Wearing shoes that has very thin soles
- Having flat feet
- If you have an unusual walk
- The position of the foot is also very important
- Performing repetitive high-impact activity
Facts about Plantar Fasciitis
- It is the most common cause of the heel pain in adults. On an average around one million patients visit a doctor for the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis.
- Experts believe that plantar fasciitis is caused due to multiple factors. One reason could be old age and some other things that can lead to plantar fasciitis are over-training, obesity and keeping a poor form while working out.
- Plantar Fasciitis affects middle-aged people the most and to people who spend a lot of time on their feet and exercising. 83% people out of the total number of patients who suffer from the problem of plantar fasciitis complain pain of pain in the heels.
- It happens commonly to the active working adults between the age of 25 and 65.
- Runners or athletes who have physically demanding work profiles and jobs are the most susceptible to developing pain and heel problems.
Natural Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
Night Splints
People have the habit of sleeping with feet pointing downwards that shortens the plantar fascia (not allowing it to stretch) and the Achilles tendon. If you wear night splints during your sleep then always keep your feet at a 90 degree angle. Instead of shortening your plantar fascia you will get a constant stretch while you sleep. Night splints work very well and once the pain is gone you can stop yourself from wearing them.
When you wear night splints then the arch of the foot does not easily become contracted at night.
Ice Application
Icing can help to diminish the symptoms of heel pain. Icing is helpful for the pain when you suffer a sudden flare up and it can also help in reducing the inflammation. Take a pack of ice and cover it with a thin towel or an ice pack and hold it over the area four to three times daily for 20 minutes or minimum for 15 minutes. You can even roll an ice cube under your foot.
Shoe Inserts
These can easily treat the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. The shoe inserts permit the patients to continue with their routine activities without any pain. Some shoe inserts that are helpful; arch supports, gel inserts and custom orthotics.
Strassburg Sock
A straussburg sock is used to prevent the pain that is caused upon taking the first few steps early in the morning. It helps to tighten and shorten the fascia. Strassburg socks are being used by people world over and it does provide relief without even asking you to do much.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
This therapy uses the energy pulses to cause a microtrauma to a tissue of the plantar fascia. The microtrauma caused to the tissue induces the repair of plantar fascia. The ESWT is recommended to patients for whom the above mentioned treatments have not worked.
If nothing else than you can also ask a professional to give you a foot massage
- Begin by applying a little moisturizer to your feet
- Think of your foot as a tic-tac-toe board and thereafter by using medium to firm pressure massage the full length of the arch of your feet, starting from heels to the toes.
- Now, massage across the width of the arch and continue the massage on each foot for atleast 2 minutes.
The problem of Plantar fasciitis will frustrate and bother you and it could also become the reason for a horrible pain. You can heal it slowly by taking a few steps which will eventually alleviate your symptoms. Nothing else but the treatment requires a little patience.
Author Bio: Rohit Bimbrahw is currently working as the Project Manager at Home HealthCare Shoppe; the medical supply extension of Port Coquitlam’s Wilson Pharmacy. At Home Healthcare Shoppe, we believe that with great health and well being, anyone can live a fun and purposeful life.
