What can you do to reduce heel pain?

“Getting out of bed each morning was painful,” recalls a patient of her yearlong experience with heel pain when she first visited me………………………

                   . “As I place my foot on the floor, I could feel a sharp pain in my heel and could only drag about the room. It would loosen up after a few minutes, but my foot would continue to hurt as I went through the day.”

Heel pain with the first steps getting out of bed in the morning, or when standing from a seated position, are the most characteristic symptoms of plantar fasciitis 

Plantar Fasciitis Causes Heel Pain

The plantar fascia is a tough, fibrous tissue band running under the soles of your feet, and connects the heel bone (calcaneus) to the base of the toes. It also helps support the arch of the foot in its role as a shock absorber. An injury or continuous irritation of this tissue causes plantar fasciitis and the resulting heel pain.

Treatment Options

The following self-care measures may help reduce symptoms.

Stop all sports and rest the foot.

§  Stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon is effective in reducing symptoms.

§  Use shoes with better heel cushioning, or include a heel cup for pain relief.

§  Apply ice to the heel. Freeze a plastic bottle of water and roll your foot over it.

§  Limited use ofl anti-inflammatory medications is helpful.

§  Different types of day or night wear splints keep your plantar fascia stretched, and relieve pain.