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Introduction
There are many types of foot conditions that result in foot pain. One of the most common causes of foot pain is Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis is the result of inflammation of the fascia. The fascia is the band of tissue that is quite thick at your foot’s bottom. And when the fascia is inflamed, it can be quite painful. However, there are some treatments to help it heal, which will involve changes in lifestyles and caring for the affected foot.
Sometimes when Plantar Fasciitis is quite severe, the only option to resolve the issue is through surgery. However, if you take good care of your feet and wear the right shoes for Plantar Fasciitis, surgery can easily be avoided. Listed below are the Plantar Fasciitis causes and home treatments.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis And What Are The Causes For The Condition To Happen?
Plantar Fasciitis is the inflammation of the fascia, which is the tissue band at the bottom of your feet. The fascia is exceptionally thick, and it runs from toes to the heel. Plantar Fasciitis is extremely painful, and there is a lot of discomforts experienced while you are walking. When the condition is at its worst, painful heel spurs, which are growths of bone on the heel result from Plantar Fasciitis.
The condition causes the most pain in the heel, and it is felt the most after taking the first step after sitting down for hours. For instance, if you are sitting at a desk job for several hours before your break, you will feel the extreme pain in your heel as you take the first step.
The pain is also the most felt after awakening in the morning. You are asleep for many hours in the night. The first step you take out of your bed causes the most pain. Patients who are on their feet for a while have experienced less pain. The discomfort improves as they are used to walking around. However, as long as they are active, they don’t feel the pain as much. If they sit down again after being active for a while, the pain becomes worse. You may wonder what the risk factors are for Plantar Fasciitis.
Several risk factors increase someone’s chance of developing Plantar Fasciitis. Middle-aged women from the ages of 40 to 60 years of age are at risk, especially if they are quite overweight or obese. However, weight is not always a risk factor for Plantar Fasciitis.
Women that consistently wear high-heeled shoes are in the high-risk group for developing the condition. If they have high arches, tight Achilles tendons, or flat feet, that is another risk factor as well. Those who have an unusual walk, stance, or keep their foot positioned oddly are also in the high-risk group for developing the condition.
Those who spend many hours of the day standing are also at risk of developing Plantar Fasciitis. If their jobs require them to be on their feet for long hours, they are at risk for developing Plantar Fasciitis. A waitress or chef are both high-risk job examples.
Last but not least, if they are wearing old shoes that have worn-out soles, that increases their chances of developing the heel condition. You need the right support for your feet, especially when you have to stand up for many hours of the day. Fortunately, there are treatments for Plantar Fasciitis that are affective before having to resort to surgery.
How Is Plantar Fasciitis Treated?
In this Plantar Fasciitis causes and home treatments post, you’ve been made aware of the condition and remedies. Shoes that feature a low heel as well are a good choice. Foot inserts whether they are ready-made or custom-made can only help manage the condition.
If you are on your feet often during the day (and wearing the best type of shoes to support your feet), once you are at home, focus on resting. Keeping your weight off your feet is what you need to do to minimize the pain. Rest on the sofa or in your bed while you keep your feet elevated. In addition to that, use an ice pack on your feet to help reduce inflammation.
If you do not have an ice pack, then use a bag of frozen peas or vegetables instead. Wrap a towel around it and put it against your affected heal about three to four times a day. Keep it on the heel for about 20 minutes each time. If you don’t have frozen vegetables, then you can use a Styrofoam or plastic cup to take its place.
Fill the cup with water, then put it into the freezer. Allow it to freeze for a few hours. Once the cup is frozen, take it out and rub it against your heel for about 10 to 15 minutes. Be careful not to put your heel right against the ice itself. Keep your heel in contact with the cup’s surface instead of the ice that is inside of the cup.
Another home treatment to utilize for Plantar Fasciitis or general arthritis is doing the proper exercises to help the area heal and feel better. Stretch your calves. You are stretching your foot and its bottom as well as your Achilles tendon at the same time. Do this exercise for a few minutes several times a day. This exercise not only helps to relieve pain, but it helps to strengthen the muscles of your foot and lower leg as well.
Another thing you can do is to use athletic tape to provide the support that you need for your foot. It can keep it in place to prevent the condition from worsening as well. Wearing the tape during the day as you are on your feet is ideal.
Remember as well that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, which are OTC pain relievers help to reduce pain if it gets bad. However, only take them if you need them. Utilize the tips mentioned above first before taking pain relievers.
Conclusion
After learning about the Plantar Fasciitis causes and home treatments, you know what you are dealing with while you are living with the condition. There are a variety of causes of Plantar Fasciitis, which may be the result of poor lifestyle choices that have consequences such as wearing narrow shoes with high heels. In some cases, people are born with risk factors.
However, even though surgery is the one way to correct the foot and to remove the condition, it does not have to be necessary. As long as you are utilizing the home treatments, such as keeping your foot elevated, you will be fine. You must be wearing the right type of shoes and doing the suggested exercises as well. If you are consistent with utilizing the home treatments for Plantar Fasciitis, it is manageable.