Plantar Fasciitis
Imagine you wake up in
the morning, and the moment you step down from your bed, your ankle area up to
the heel aches or when you suddenly stand up after sitting for too long , and as you take steps, you feel an excruciating
pain in your heel area.
This excruciating pain
occurs due to Plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is one
of the most common soft-tissue disorders of the foot.
It is a web-like
ligament that connects your toes to your heel. It supports the arch of your
foot in the same way a bowstring holds a bow, and helps you walk, jog, or run.
In simple words, it is a
rubber band like structure which constantly stretches in and out as you walk, jog, or run.
And that actually brings
us to know about -
What causes it?
Primarily, Plantar fasciitis can be
found among the young and middle-aged people. From athletes to non-athletes, it
is a very common cause of pain at the bottom of the heel.
Imagine you have a rubber band and you
hold it with both hands with the help of your index fingers and the thumbs, and
you start stretching it constantly .As you continue to stretch it, you will
notice that the rubber band starts to
lose its elasticity that it had previously. When you still continue to stretch
it at a faster pace, it will eventually divide into two parts.
That is exactly what happens with
Plantar fasciitis.
Normally, this ligament act as a shock
absorber. It absorbs the normal erosion due to our daily life. However, when we
walk for too long or run more than needed, more pressure is applied on the
shock-absorber or Plantar fascia. This excess pressure causes the web-like
structure to lose its grip and it starts to tear apart. This damage causes the
plantar fascia to become inflamed, resulting in excruciating pain and
stiffness.
Below are some possible reasons as to
what causes Plantar fasciitis:
- Too much walking or running for long distances.
- Walking on any uneven surface for too long.
- Overweight is the major cause. This puts more pressure on the heel.
- Women who are in their last month of pregnancy normally experience a sharp pain in their heels as they walk around.
When we wake up in the morning and step down from
the bed and start to walk, the first step we take is painful. However, how does
one know whether it is a tissue disorder or a mere pain?
That precisely takes us through to know:
What are the symptoms of Plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis starts the same way
as any other pain. A major indication is a dull pain which is mostly
experienced in the first few steps one takes while waking up for the day and
gradually reduces with more steps. Due to stiffness in the heel, one might feel
the pain while climbing up the stairs or standing up after being seated for a
long time.
This is the primary indication that
your foot might be suffering from Plantar fasciitis. Ignoring this dull pain at
the start can cause the ligament to swell and flare up the pain.It can affect
both the feet or even one foot. Largely, the pain actually starts suddenly
after any activity is stopped and not during the activity.
Below are some common symptoms:
- Pain in the heel or the mid area under the foot.
- Pain after running too long on the treadmill or after any exercise that includes putting pressure on the feet.
- Pain in the heel area after getting out of bed in the morning or after a long period of rest, such as after a long car ride. However, the pain eases out after a few minutes of walking.
- Thus, in a nutshell, Plantar fasciitis is caused due to working for too long with your feet. The good news is that it can be prevented. If the pain worsens or prolongs, one should immediately seek medical advice.
Below are some ways you can prevent
Plantar fasciitis:
- Avoid walking too much or causing strain to your foot muscles.
- Prevent yourself from walking on any uneven surface. Use shoes/slippers with soft sole/foam.
- Do not wear tight shoes that can cause your foot to shrink inside the shoe. This will cause pain when you remove them and try to walk.
- Soak your feet in warm water. This will relax the muscles.
Comments
Post a Comment