Struggling With Plantar Fasciitis?
Everything You Need To Know...
Plantar fasciitis… to people
outside of the medical world, the name itself gives very little away. But,
while its title might be a mouthful, its symptoms are certainly a lot more familiar:
stabbing pains, and burning, aching, and dull discomfort throughout the bottom
of the foot are but some of it’s well known trademarks. Many people suffer from
plantar fasciitis on a daily basis, yet its causes and treatment might surprise
you. If you’re one of the millions of people worldwide who struggle to overcome
this affliction, keep reading – we’re here to tell you everything there is to
know!
First thing’s first: what is it?
Well, it’s a condition characterized by inflammation in the plantar fascia, a
ligament which connects your heel to the front of the foot. The plantar fascia
is incredibly important in supporting the arch of your foot, and is thus
equally vital in ensuring a strong, supported, even gait. Its position is such
that it spreads across the foot in a tangled web, of sorts, and it’s
inflammation can therefore cause pain and discomfort in an array of ways.
So, why do we experience this inflammation?
Having an inflamed plantar fascia, that is, suffering from plantar fasciitis,
can be the result of various endeavors in our lives. Some of the following
might hit a little closer to home than others – take a look:
Being
Overweight – Obesity or excess weight can dramatically increase your
chances of suffering from plantar fasciitis. Extra pounds add pressure to the
joints and muscles in the feet, thereby placing stress on the plantar fascia
ligaments. The prolonged stress of carrying excess weight causes the ligament
to strain and become inflamed, thus leading to plantar fasciitis.
Long
Distance Running – The high-impact nature of running can be detrimental to
the plantar fascia ligaments in your feet, and the constant pounding impact
experienced by the joints, muscles, and plantar fascia as your connect with the
tarmac eventually cause inflammation and resultant pain.
Poor
Footwear – Plantar Fasciitis can be caused by the use of improper footwear.
Shoes that do not support the foot correctly can cause stress to be placed on
the plantar fascia ligament. The result? You guessed it… inflammation.
Tight/Overworked
Muscles – Not paying enough attention to the mobility of your feet can
often lead to stagnation, tightness, and inflammation. If your feet are not
being moved, stretched, and kept supple, the plantar fascia practically seizes
up, leaving you with inflammation and serious pain.
Flat Feet
– it may be that your plantar fascia has more to do with your physiology than
any one action on your part. Oftentimes, flat feet, that is, a condition where
the arch of the foot is collapsed and the entire foot almost touches the
ground, can be the cause. In this case, the plantar fascia is being severely
stressed, and the resultant inflammation is due to an inability to rectify the
situation.
High
Arches – As with flat feet, having very high arches may also lead to
issues. In this case, though, the plantar fasciitis is stressed in the opposite
direction. Similarly, however, inflammation is the result.
Now that you’re aware of why you
might be suffering from plantar fasciitis, it’s time to get to grips with what
can be done about it. Firstly, leaving it to disappear on its own is a mistake:
it won’t. In fact, it’s most likely to get a lot worse if left untreated. The
decision to get treatment has to be made: once you do that, you’re well on your
way to health.
And while it may seem as though
this affliction is best overcome with the use of painkillers and surgery… that
just isn’t true. In fact, plantar fasciitis is actually most effectively
treated by a physical therapist. In fact, physical therapy is so effective in
treating plantar fasciitis that, in most cases, patients are not only relieved
of pain, but find that they are more active, more mobile, and more confident
than ever before. Why, you might ask? Well, it’s because physical therapy finds
the root cause of the problem, treats it accordingly, and gives you the tools
to maintain your pain free life. But that’s really only the tip of the iceberg
when it comes to what physical therapy can do to help you with plantar fasciitis
– take a look below:
-Physical therapy is hands-on, meaning you no longer have to take painkillers or be on bed-rest for days at a time. A dedicated, professional physical therapist is able to use specialized, targeted techniques to alleviate your pain and boost your healing process.
-Physical
therapy will reduce the inflammation
so that the plantar fascia can finally heal.
-Physical therapy will afford you the opportunity
to alter your daily activities for
the better – under the guidance of an expert physical therapist, you’ll learn
the best, most effective ways for overcoming your pain, right now.
-Physical therapy guides you on your path to
health by giving you expertly crafted, tailor-made
exercises and stretches for you to do at home. This means that you can
reach your goal of a pain-free life… and that you can MAINTAIN it.
-Physical therapists offer advice that can be life-changing. From the possibility of shoe
inserts, to the exercises you can start doing outside of the physical therapy
rooms, your physical therapist will guide you every step of the way.
-Physical therapy gives you what no other
treatment can: care. A physical
therapist will offer you support when you need it most.
At the end of the day, plantar
fasciitis can steal your joy and rob you of mobility, family time, and
cherished activities. There is hope, though, and by visiting a qualified,
dedicated, hands-on physical therapist, you can finally get back to the
pain-free life you deserve. Don’t wait for the pain to get any worse – make the
decision to get help, right now.
