Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury involving the inflammation of the thick band of tissues that connect your toes to your heel. It can be very painful, but luckily there are multiple home remedies for plantar fasciitis including stretching, icing, oral anti-inflammatories, and wearing supportive shoes—even in the house!
Stretching is a great way to reduce the tension on your plantar fascia. You should stretch in the morning before getting out of bed, to help reduce the pain with the first few steps in the morning. You should also stretch two to three other times throughout the day.
Using a frozen water bottle to ice the heel and the arch of the foot is a great way to reduce the pain and swelling at the insertion of the plantar fascia onto the heel bone. Ice once in the morning and once in the evening for the best benefit.
Oral anti-inflammatories can help reduce the swelling at the plantar fascia and help relieve some pain. These should not be the only treatment you use to help with plantar fasciitis, however. When used excessively, oral anti-inflammatories can cause stomach upset and irritation.
Supportive shoe gear is a huge factor in treating plantar fasciitis. Heel and arch support is very important to help relieve the pain caused by this condition. We have a list of casual, dress, and athletic shoes that can help reduce your pain.
Custom molded orthotics placed in your shoes can be beneficial as well. Orthotics are built specifically for your feet and can be used in many different types of shoes to give you added internal support and cushion.
If you are experiencing heel and arch pain, we can help diagnose and treat it! Don’t wait - call us at Podiatry Care Specialists, PC today. We have offices in West Chester, Newtown Square, Exton and Audobon, in Southeastern, PA. You can make an appointment using the website, or call us at (877) 905-5907.
Photo Credit: Satit_Srihin via FreeDigitalPhotos.net