Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a very common cause of pain the in the heels. Plantar fasciitis is caused when plantar fascia, a tissue that connects heel to the toes and lies across the length of the foot, is inflamed and irritated. The common symptoms of plantar fasciitis are a sharp pain, inflammation, and swelling around the heel. The pain may come when you stand up on your feet in the morning. Occasionally, the pain gradually develops when you have walked a long distance or have remained standing for a prolonged period. Plantar fasciitis generally affects one foot, but it can affect both feet simultaneously as well.

There can be various reasons for the plantar fascia tissue to be irritated or inflamed. Usually, it happens when the feet has been subjected to long period of stress. Continuous physical exercise is one reason of plantar fasciitis because it can stretch and tear the fascia. Athletes and sportspersons are therefore more likely to experience this. Overweight people and pregnant women are also more susceptible to plantar fasciitis. Wearing ill-fitting and uncomfortable shoes can also lead to plantar fasciitis. Most of the people suffering from plantar fasciitis recover after some amount of medication and physiotherapy. In severe cases, surgical procedures may also be needed. It is advisable to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Home remedies mostly involve pain relief and prevention, but for a complete cure you will have to undergo proper medical treatment. One good method to ease the pain is to use an ice pack on your feet. Put an ice pack on the area of pain and lightly apply pressure to it. Keep the pack on for 15-20 minutes or until you get relief from the pain. When you experience pain, you should rest your feet and refrain from any strenuous activity. You should also ensure that your footwear is comfortable and does not put any stress on your feet. You can even use cushioned insoles in your footwear to support the fascia.

There are also some easy-to-do exercises that can help you deal with plantar fasciitis. For the first exercise you will need to sit on the floor and stretch your legs in front of you. Then, you should stretch your arms, hold your toes, and try to pull them towards you. For the second exercise, you will need to stand in front of a wall, stretch out your arms and lean towards the wall. Put one foot forward so that it is directly under your outstretched arms and the other foot further behind so that it is behind your body. Now, keeping the foot that is further behind placed firmly on the ground, you should bend the knee of the foot that is in front. Ensure that the heel of your front foot keeps touching the ground. Remain in this position for about 10 seconds and then repeat the exercise by altering the position of your feet.