The treatment for plantar fasciitis can be simple and relatively quick, with improvements in your heel pain being felt relatively quickly. On the other hand, it can be a difficult process taking a lifetime to total cure. Or it can be anything in between, depending on why you have plantar fasciitis, how severe it is and how seriously you follow the treatment for it. Of these, the last factor is the most important in determining how long it will take, or indeed if it is possible at all, to cure your plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia. It is one of the commonest causes of heel pain and can be quite debilitating. It is commonly caused by over pronation, or rolling inwards of the foot during motion. Whilst some degree of pronation is perfectly normal during walking, and most people do it to some extent, a few people over pronate during motion. This action puts excessive stress on the plantar fascia, the long foot ligament running underneath the arch, causes minute tears or rips to develop in the plantar fascia, which become inflamed and painful as the foot is used
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Because over pronation becomes increasingly significant as the foot is used, plantar fasciitis is often found in athletes, runners and people who do a lot of walking in their everyday lives. It is also common in pregnant women and anyone who is carrying excess weight because this increases the load on the feet, amplifying the stress on the plantar fascia. Losing weight significantly improves the condition, which is why women often feel relief from their foot pain on giving birth.
Plantar fasciitis is aggravated by tight foot and calf muscles. And one of the best ways to treat plantar fasciitis is through a course of daily exercises including specific plantar fascia stretches and massages, toe flexes, Achilles tendon stretches and calf lengthening exercises. However, you should never attempt these as a first resort or you could do more damage to the plantar and increase your recovery time.
If your pain is intense, it is likely that your plantar fascia is inflamed and it is essential that you rest your afflicted foot by elevating it. You should also ice it by massaging a frozen bottle of water underneath the heel and arch for several minutes whenever the pain is intense. These actions will help heal the initial inflammation. Many people fail to rest their foot sufficiently before trying exercises and cause more damage to their feet long term.
Exercises and stretches for the plantar fascia are essential if you want to cure your foot pain for good but if you do not rest sufficiently immediately after damaging your plantar fascia, then you can unwittingly increase the extent and length of your suffering.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment - How Long Does It Take To Cure Plantar Fasciitis?
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