Exercising with Plantar Fasciitis

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I swapped to Skechers MBT style trainers - it gave a lot of relief, but the only thing that stopped the pain was a steroid injection. The first was into the sole (which stung, but isn't the agony people make out) but the one which worked best was a generalised one as part of treatment for RA as it dealt with all inflammation indiscriminately. Then I concentrated on stretching as often as possible.

Other than that, proper inserts to stop the foot caving inwards when you walk are important.

Savvy_Sue

BTW, it could be worth asking your GP for a referral to physio for this, I don't know how it works in your area but I got a letter saying I could go to an open access session for assessment. That meant I chose a day when I could wait, turned up, was seen, given an exercise sheet and told to go back if it didn't improve. Physio confirmed that the very simple calf stretching exercises I was doing were fine, and gave me some stronger ones for if I needed them.

If you google 'calf stretches plantar fasciitis' you'll get some suggestions. I do the basic calf stretch whenever I'm cleaning my teeth. I've been told that if I stop doing that stretch, the pain WILL come back, and I really don't want that to happen ...

jenniewb

My mum also has this condition. She was refered to a physio and (after a 6 months waiting list) was given some advice to follow- much like everyone here, use an aerosol can or tin cans under the soles of your feet. I wondered if yoga balls would help? you can get them from specialist yoga stores or some online stores. They are meant for massage, look a little like tumble dryer balls but are not as hard. They come in various sizes. Tennis balls were another suggestion.

One thing she also does which has not been mentioned (I'm not sure if it works) was to have two bowls of water, one hot and one freezing cold- or a bath of hot water and a bag of frozen peas on the floor outside the bath. Swao your feet from one to the other every 60 seconds for a few times every day to help the circulation and help with the pain.

I also heard one lady suggest to my mum ultra sound therpy which she had been suggested by her doctor, she said it had worked really well and no longer had the condition. Having said that she was noticably tiny so I wonder if she had also lost some weight? the biggest thing the doctor and physio seemed to stress to my mum was that weight was a large factor in the condition.

Has anyone tried Tens treatments? I hear they are also advised.

hermanmunster_3

have a look at the exercises on here to help the PF - then you can exercise more
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Plantar-Fasciitis.htm

ailuro2

It's not heel inserts, it's arch supports the podiatrist gave me, also got me doing calf stretches while using the inserts, no good doing them barefoot as your arch just collapses and stretches the calf in the wrong place.

I do agree that it was being referred to the podiatrist, and latterly the biomechanics podiatrist that really helped, I had been self treating for years, the usual - changing shoes, not going barefoot (that really helped with pain levels) and stopping road cycling too (killed my feet the next day to ride a real bike just a couple of miles:eek:) and trying shoe inserts from various places.

If you go see your GP and get your name on the waiting list now then you're closer to gettign assistance with it, of course if it's better before the appointment comes you can always cancel it.

Good Luck with WW, I'm restarting today too.:D

ezrida

[FONT=&quot]Hi[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] I am running and I am dealing with plantar fasciitis for more than a year now. There are many things you can do to treat your PF although I understood that treatment efficiency is very individual. If something works for one it may not work for the other. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I understand that you did not try taping? I have found it very useful. Taping will keep your foot from getting injured again and will help you get through your daily routine. There are a few Taping techniques you can find in YouTube - just type "Plantar Fasciitis Taping" in YouTube search or in: [/FONT]plantar-fasciitis-elrofeet.com/plantar_fasciitis_taping.html
[FONT=&quot]Think about your gait. This is the key for your recovery.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Try swimming and riding a bicycle. I used to run and I got plantar fasciitis so I started to swim and cycle. Today I’m better with my PF so I ended up as a triathlete.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Take care & Good luck[/FONT]

Ladyshopper

I had this for 18 months, and it was horrendous. Only thing that eventually got rid of it was steroid injections (had to have 2). Not pleasant, but touch wood haven't had a reoccurence yet!

Might be worth seeing if there is any university students locally. We have a school of podiatry located at our hospital, the students there do the diagnosis and treatments (although they couldn't do my injections). My local doctors were rubbish and also didn't know about this, it was through my occupational health physio that I got to hear about it. You self refer, then they send you an appointment and take it from there.

At my worst I could only wear crocs on my feet (including to work, in winter), couldn't put my foot down flat on the floor when I got out of bed or say off the sofa, and it really affected my life.

It does go, most people are lucky and with the inserts and exercises it will go. Others like myself are not so fortunate, but I would definitely have the steroid injection again if it ever came back (and I am the worlds worst wimp when it comes to pain!).

Good luck!