Plantar Fasciitis…if you have it you know exactly what it is, and if you don’t coming from someone that does, you don’t really want to find out. This condition is one of the most common reasons for people suffering with heel pain. The condition is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a thick band of tissue that runs across the foot and connects the heel to the toes. The pain associated with this condition can cause a stabbing sensation in the heel when taking steps. In most cases the condition is caused by inadequate footwear that fails to provide sufficient support in the arch of the foot. So what can you do if you are struggling with PF?
According to the Mayo Clinic one of the most beneficial practices in dealing with PF come s in the form of simply stretching, that’s right, stretching your foot properly every morning can vastly improve the discomforts associated with PF. In this diagram you see three basic examples of stretches you can do every morning to relieve the discomfort:
Make sure to use proper stretching technique when applying these stretches that means hold your stretch for at least 30 seconds without bouncing. As always never push beyond your own limitations or over exert yourself. Once your PF is stretched, we need to turn our eyes towards preventing inflammation. To do so it’s important to get the right level of support. To do so I recommend using an arch brace, this one by Pedi-Fix works really well, I have personally used it for a few months now and it has certainly helped, Pedi-Fix also makes a set of arch cradles that give you just the right amount of support, and they can be worn on a daily basis with your favorite pair of shoes. If you have PF or any other foot condition we invite you take a look at our full line of foot support products, your feet will thank you!
