With so many activities going on this season, we are seeing an uptick in the number of patients coming into our clinic with pain in the soles of their feet. Oftentimes, but not always, this pain is plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the web of connective tissue on the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed. Left untreated, it can lead to heel spurs. There are many things that you can do for yourself to both prevent and treat this problem.
Easy steps for self-treatment include:
1. Stretching your calves and ankles. To get the most out of your calf stretch, put a dowel or a book under your toes during the stretch to elevate the toes. This puts more of the stretch on the plantar fascia.
2. Roll a small ball (tennis, lacrosse, golf, etc.) under the bottom of your feet to keep the fascia supple.
3. Icing the painful area. This can best be done by freezing a small plastic bottle of water and rolling it under the foot.
4. Taping. You can see effective ways to tape your plantar fascia by visiting our website at http://www.ultimatesportsmedicine.com
Ultimate Sports Medicine 