The best—and the fastest—way to recover is through manual physical therapy and low-impact exercises that focus on the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia. Regular physical therapy treatment will rebuild stability in your ankle and strengthen your tissue along the sole of your foot.
We're not surprised that the topical NSAID diclofenac (Voltaren Gel) helped ease your heel pain. The foot stretch you describe is often recommended to help prevent or overcome plantar fasciitis.
Walking around after lying or sitting for a time may ease plantar fasciitis symptoms as the ligament stretches out. However, the pain will gradually worsen throughout the day making you very uncomfortable and affecting normal daily activities.
Since plantar fasciitis pain is caused by irritation and inflammation, staying off your feet can be helpful in reducing both these problems, so pain is reduced too. Keep your feet elevated while you rest and limit your exercise to low-impact activities like cycling or swimming.
You want to avoid going barefoot when you have plantar fasciitis, especially on hard floors. Instead, you can get shoes with a rocker bottom or a thick midsole. These provide the needed cushioning and rigidity that will contribute to pain relief. You can also use insoles with your shoes.
Many people do not wear shoes in their house, but walking barefoot may be painful (or impossible) if you have plantar fasciitis. Wearing supportive shoes at all times is essential to taking pressure off your plantar fascia and allowing your foot to heal.
It's best to address this pain right away and while it may seem crazy, working out can help plantar fasciitis. Dr. Ahmad recommends avoiding impact exercises such as running or jumping, or any exercises that make your foot hurt.
Activities that can increase the force through your feet and aggravate plantar fasciitis include: Running, walking or standing a lot in unsupportive shoes. Running, walking or standing on hard surfaces like concrete. Carrying a heavy object or gaining weight.
Plantar fasciitis makes your heel hurt when you walk. The pain is usually worse when you get out of bed in the morning or when you walk after sitting for a long time. Walking barefoot, walking on tiptoe, or walking up stairs may make the pain worse.
Massage Massaging the foot encourages blood to the area and can help soothe the pain and settle the inflammation. I recommend using a product such a Tiger Balm® or Voltarol® gel.
Is heat good for plantar fasciitis, too? Heat therapy helps increase circulation and blood flow, which can reduce cramping and stiffness. Heat can also loosen up the plantar fascia ligament, which can make stretching and massage more effective.
Pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) can ease the pain and inflammation of plantar fasciitis.
Sit in a chair and cross one leg over the other knee, so your ankle is on top of your other leg. With one hand holding your ankle and the other holding your toes, gently pull your toes backward until you feel a stretch in the bottom of your foot. Hold this position for 20 seconds and repeat three times for both feet.
Consider night splints. Most people sleep with their feet pointed down, which relaxes the plantar fascia during the night and causes early morning pain when you suddenly stand up and stretch it. Night splints work by stretching your foot arches and calves while you sleep.
Shoes which often make plantar fasciitis worse are flat slip on shoes or pumps. Ugg boots are also very bad. Flip flops are bad yet remain a popular choice of footwear for many people, particularly those that live in warmer climate.
Plantar fasciitis is often caused by repetitive motion or anything that puts a lot pressure on the arch of your foot. So, activities like running, jogging and walking, or consistent long periods of standing or being on your feet, can often lead to plantar fasciitis.
RISKS OF UNTREATED PLANTAR FASCIITIS:
Plantar ruptures: Plantar ruptures can happen if plantar fasciitis is not addressed and you continue to place heavy impacts on the plantar fascia. These activities include running, sports, or even standing for long periods of time.
Tennis Ball Roll
Step 1: Sit in a chair and place the ball under your affected foot. Step 2: Roll the ball back and forth under the arch of your foot so that you can stretch out the plantar fascia ligament. Step 3: Continue rolling for three to five minutes. You can do this stretch twice a day.
Treating Plantar Fasciitis
While the condition can be painful, the good news is that most people recover within a few months with simple at-home treatment. The best thing is to rest the affected area, use ice to relieve inflammation and carry out stretching and strengthening exercises.
If your heel pain doesn't subside after a few weeks, it's a good idea to make an appointment with an orthopedic doctor. Your orthopedist will examine your foot to make sure it's not something else causing your pain. Your doctor may use X-rays and other tests to rule out a foot fracture or other heel pain causes.
They can end up causing ligament, joint and muscle damage. Inadvertently bouncing one into instability and damage. On average I observe several pairs of Skechers tread into my clinic every day. The public love them, but on feet which are not ideal, in terms of an underlying biomechanical issue, they cause problems.
Plantar fasciitis pain is usually worse when you get out of bed in the morning or during the first steps after sitting for a long period of time. While you are standing or walking, you may sometimes feel a sharp, stabbing pain in the heel.
It's not just about the risk of getting dirt and germs on your feet. Going barefoot in your house can lead to foot problems such as heel pain and/or ball of foot pain.