A few months ago, my husband, an avid runner like myself, began to complain of a slight pain in his right heel. It was nothing too uncomfortable, but enough to make him limp from time to time when he stood up to walk after sitting for awhile. He continued to do his daily runs but soon noticed that the pain and discomfort not only remained, but intensified. In fact, it seemed to affect his whole foot at this point.
I encouraged him to purchase some new running shoes, as the ones he had were incredibly worn out. He heeded my advice, but that did not seem to alleviate his problem. After speaking with a physical therapist at a race event a couple of weeks later, he realized he might be suffering from plantar fasciitis. While visions of me pushing him around in a wheelchair painfully danced through my head, we decided to do some research on the matter. He is slowly improving while undergoing certain therapeutic measures to reduce the pain. He still runs, but just not as much as he was used to running. With time, he hopes to be back on track with his exercises.
What is plantar fasciitis, exactly? According to the experts at www.sportsinjuryclinic.net, it is a painful condition caused by the over use of the plantar fascia, or arch tendon, of the foot. This is a broad, thick band of tissue that runs from just under the heel to the front of the foot.
Typically thought to be an inflammatory condition, that notion has been refuted with the discovery that there are no inflammatory cells within the fascia. What causes the pain and dysfunction is now believed to by degeneration of the collagen fibers close to the attachment to the heel bone.
Among the many signs of plantar fasciitis are heel pain, usually under the heel and to the side. There may be pain when the inside of the heel is pressed and sometimes along the arch. The pain is usually more pronounced in the morning as the fascia will tighten overnight. Once the foot gets warmed up, the pain will lessen. If the condition gets worse, the pain will intensify throughout the day. Even stretching the fascia can be painful.
The most common cause of plantar fasciitis is a tight calf muscle, which leads to the prolonged and/or high velocity pronation of the foot, per www.sportsinjuryclinic.net. Other causes may be a high arch or a low arch and other biomechanical abnormalities that can be determined by a podiatrist.
Further, excessive walking (or running, as in my husband’s case!) in footwear that does not provide sufficient arch support can attribute to plantar fasciitis. Those who carry excess weight may also be at risk.
To treat this painful condition, rest is important. Since most people need to be on their feet each day, this can be a challenge. It is important to limit the amount of time spent walking on the feet.
Certain taping techniques can also be used to aid in the healing process. Tape is applied in strips across the fascia, in turn taking excess stress off of the foot, allowing it to begin the healing process.
Ice packs or cold therapy can also help to reduce the pain. This can be done regularly until symptoms are resolved. There is also a planter fasciitis night splint product that one can wear overnight that will gently stretch the calf muscle and the plantar fascia so that it will not be so tight upon awakening in the morning.
When a professional treats this condition, he or she may prescribe an anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen. He or she may also assess the gait of the patient to see if he or she over-pronates or over-supinates. The foot may be taped or certain sports massage techniques may be applied. If necessary, an x-ray may be taken to rule out any bone growth. In the worst case scenarios, surgery may be performed.
My husband continues to run as frequently as possible, yet he still feels the pain on a day-to-day basis. He is applying most, if not all, of the prescribed techniques. Sometimes, these issues take quite awhile to resolve themselves. I just know he is bound and determined to get it to heal. I don’t think he wants to entertain the thought of me playing nurse maid to him, either. After all, we have three boys who demand enough of me for that stuff! If anything, I use his condition to advise him that I need a new pair of running shoes on a regular basis. Heaven knows, we don’t need the two of us limping around all day!