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Plantar Fasciitis: Best Stretches to Ease Pain

Plantar fasciitis can happen in a snap. You get out of bed one morning, and the minute you set one heel down on the floor, it starts throbbing. You did a tough workout the day before and had some heel pain but nothing serious.

Weird, right? Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain, and it strikes a whopping two million individuals every year. Although it’s an injury that can affect anybody, certain conditions make it more likely.

  • The heavier you are.
  • The more you jump.
  • The worse your shoes, the harder the surface you’re on.

These increase your risk. Other risk factors include having a high arch, tight calf muscles (you can tell if you have trouble flexing your foot toward your shin), repetitive activity and either new or increased activity.

So what is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a repetitive-use stress injury, which is why it’s so prevalent in runners who do little else but run. The plantar fascia is a ligament on the bottom of your foot that connects your heel to the front of your foot. Think of when you cut a piece of steak, and you encounter the tough white stuff- that’s your fascia.

The fascia can typically handle vast amounts of stress — every heel strike you make as you walk generates about 1,000 pounds of force per square inch. However, too much pressure or strain can damage it and cause inflammation. One of the most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis is heel pain first thing in the morning, although not everybody experiences this.

Heel pain might also occur after being on your feet all day or during certain activities, so it’s best to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. If you’re highly active, the best thing you can do to prevent plantar fasciitis is to mix up your workouts so don’t put too much stress on your feet.

For example, run four days a week instead of five and supplement your training with foot-friendly activities like cycling, yoga, and rowing. You should also vary the surfaces on which you train. Concrete is hard on the feet, so switch to a track or grass now and then. Moreover, going barefoot (especially on hard surfaces) is worst for your feet.

How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis at Home

Once you start feeling heel pain, please don’t ignore it. If you want to recover faster, intervene early, or the pain will get worse, and you’ll be looking at a longer recovery. Depending on the severity, plantar fasciitis can take weeks, even months, to heal. First, modify your activities so that you decrease the pounding on your plantar fascia. Whether you’ll have to give up your workouts depends on the severity of your pain.

If it’s mild, you might be able to work around it. Severe pain, on the other hand, calls for choosing a gentler form of exercise, where you’re less on your feet. It is also recommended that icing your heel within the first 48 to 72 hours of feeling pain. Wrap a towel around an ice pack and apply it two to three times a day for no longer than 20 minutes.

While you sleep at night, consider wearing a splint to stretch the calf muscles and make stepping out of bed in the morning less painful. More flexibility generally allows for less stiffness and pain and a quicker return to activity. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen and naproxen can also help alleviate the pain.

Another relied strategy: massaging your heel by running your thumbs up and down the plantar fascia. Don’t forget to evaluate the condition of your shoes, too — adequate support is vital. Your podiatrist can also provide orthotics and inserts for your shoes to help prevent and treat plantar fasciitis. They provide support and reduce strain on the feet and plantar fascia. Custom orthotics are ideal because they help lock the foot bones in a particular position to makes them more stable.

Pro tip: Buy shoes at the end of the day because your feet get more significant as the day progresses, and make sure you measure both feet.

3 Stretches to Relieve Plantar Fasciitis Heel Pain

When in doubt, recommended to stretch it out.

Here’s our three stretches several times daily and hold each pose for 30 seconds.

1. Gastroc Stretch

Plantar Fasciitis:Best Stretches to Ease Pain

How to: Stand facing a wall with arms extended, palms flat on the wall at shoulder height (a). Step your injured heel back until the knee is straight, and the heel is flat, and the foot is turned inward slightly (b). Without lifting the heel or bending the knee, press your hips forward until you feel a stretch in the calf of the injured heel (c). Switch sides and repeat.

2. Doorway Stretch

Plantar Fasciitis: Best Stretches to Ease Pain

How to: Stand a foot away from a door with your hands on the door for support (a). Step the uninjured leg forward and the injured leg back with the heel flat on the floor. Then, turn the injured foot slightly inward (b). Slowly lean into the door, so you feel the stretch in your calf (c). To make the stretch more intense, lean forward more (d). Switch sides and repeat.

3. Stair Stretch

Plantar Fasciitis: Best Stretches to Ease Pain

How to: Stand on a step with your heels hanging off the step (a). Keeping your knees straight, slowly let your heels drop until you feel a stretch in the calves (b).

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