Tips and Tricks for Plantar Fasciitis!

In case you’re wondering plantar fasciitis isn’t a lovely planting style to pot your flowers in a more interesting way.  It's a common and painful condition that affects the bottom of your foot. If you’re feeling some pain in your heel when you walk or stand, then you may have Plantar Fasciitis.  That is an inflammatory condition that affects the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. So what can you do about it? 

Diagram illustrating plantar fasciitis, highlighting the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament between the heel bone (calcaneus) and the tibia.

The first thing you need to do is get with Dr. Handie so you can be properly diagnosed.  (Yes, Dr. Handie is the foot expert at Invictus).  For plantar fasciitis, it is recommended that you get footwear with good arch support. Don’t go barefoot and make sure you replace your athletic shoes every six months. Because we’re sure you’re using those athletic shoes constantly!  Gradually increasing your exercise routine can also help prevent plantar fasciitis. Don’t jump into the deep end with the exercise. Warm up, stretch, do some easy exercises, then move on to the hard stuff, followed by stretching again. Specifically, stretch the calf. When you stretch out your calves, it helps the area that affects the heels. Finally, rest. Give yourself a full rest after your feet go through intense exercise. Give your feet a chance to recover before jumping back in.  

Again, the most important thing you can do if you start to feel pain in your heel or see redness or swelling in the heel is see your podiatrist. Here at Invictus, we’ve got the incomparable Doctor Handie. Book an appointment with him so he can help get to the crux of whatever the problem is, and he can get you on the path towards recovery.