Don't Let This Painful Foot Condition Keep You From A Walk In The Park
You enjoy a walk in the park on those nice sunny days, but sudden foot pain can keep you out of the park and off of your feet. Plantar fasciitis can make doing anything on your feet difficult. Here is what to do if you're struck by this painful condition so you can get back outside to enjoy the weather.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. It connects your heel to the base of your toes. Should this tissue become irritated, it can be so painful that you can't put any weight on your foot.
Common Symptoms
The symptoms often occur when you first get out of bed, but they can appear at any time.
- a burning sensation on the bottom of your foot
- intense pain when you press on the bottom of your heel or at the base of your toes
- the foot may collapse underneath you if you try to put weight on it
Causes for This Foot Pain
Some of the reasons for the pain you can control while others will require the help of a foot doctor to resolve.
- poor fitting shoes that rub against the bottom of your foot
- inadequate warming up of the foot muscles before exercising
- a bone spur, typically in the heal, that is irritating the plantar fascia
- a foot injury that reduced the flexibility of the tissue
Treatment Options
A podiatrist will evaluate the extent to which the plantar fascia is irritated and recommend treated based on that. This could include:
- using custom orthotics in your shoes that remove the pressure from the bottom of your foot
- physical therapy to slowly lengthen the tissue and strengthen the muscles in your foot
- steroid injections to reduce the pain and inflammation
- surgical removal of the bone spur pushing into the tissue
- surgical repair of the tissue if it was damaged during a foot injury
Preventing This Painful Condition
Reduce your risk of developing plantar fasciitis with the following proactive measures:
- Make sure that any shoes hold your feet securely without allowing them to move and rub against the insole. Add a padded insole to the shoes to make them fit more snug, if necessary.
- Do stretching exercises with your feet before exercising or going for a walk.
- In cold weather, warm up your feet before exercising so the muscles will respond easier to the movement.
