Treatment for plantar fasciitis
Treatment for plantar fasciitis is challenging and not always successful. It involves measures that decrease the associated inflammation. Local ice massage applications both reduce pain and inflammation. Physical therapy methods, including stretching exercises, are used to treat and prevent plantar fasciitis.
However, the most common form of treatment for plantar fasciitis is using anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or cortisone injections, which are often helpful. Sports running shoes with soft, cushioned soles can help reduce the irritation of inflamed tissues from plantar fasciitis. Custom orthotic shoe inserts are used to reduce the excess motion of the foot and decrease strain on the plantar fascia. Infrequently, surgery is performed on the chronically inflamed plantar fascia.
Suppose your foot is experiencing intense pain in the arch and heel regions. In that case, a doctor must check this condition immediately to determine whether you are suffering from plantar fasciitis.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a medical condition characterized by severe pain in the heel portion of the foot. It usually occurs when a band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes becomes weak, swollen, and inflamed.
This tissue or ligament is popularly known as the plantar fascia. Experiencing plantar fasciitis will make it difficult for you to stand and walk properly.
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis
Several symptoms can be linked to plantar fasciitis. One of the most common symptoms is foot pain while standing or walking after lying in bed for a long time.
Pain is also evident after climbing stairs or standing for several hours. However, experiencing foot pain at night may already indicate a different condition or health problem, such as arthritis or tarsal tunnel syndrome.
Plantar fasciitis affects only one foot, but there are some cases where somebody might get it in both feet. The pain from adopting an irregular walking gait makes walking nearly impossible, and bilateral plantar fasciitis typically begins in one foot before spreading to the second foot.
The pain is regularly located under the heel; however, at times, it is possible that you feel arch pain, too. Pain can also occur along the outside border of the heel, which is caused either by altering the way you walk to relieve the pain or by the high impact of the foot on the outer edges.
The pain usually advances gradually, while the heel’s underside may become red, swollen, and tender. Stretching or softly pressing on the plantar fascia might be painful. Also, standing on your toes or climbing up steps can aggravate the pain.
People suffering from plantar fasciitis often experience heel spurs. However, heel spurs may not be one of the symptoms, as they also occur in people without plantar fasciitis.
Causes of plantar fasciitis
There are many different causes of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis can occur when the plantar fascia tissue that supports the arch is stretched. Repeated straining can also aggravate the condition, causing more tears in the ligament.
People who are overweight are prone to the condition, especially when calf muscles are not properly exercised regularly. Athletic individuals, such as runners and dancers who frequently impact their feet against a sturdy surface, may also experience these frequent, sharp shooting sensations. People suffering from plantar fasciitis find it painful to take the first few steps in the morning after a long night’s rest.
The plantar fascia muscle runs beneath the foot’s arch and may cause problems for people with flat feet or high arches. People who frequently run around barefoot or wear high heels are more likely to suffer from the condition than those who wear sensible shoes with arch support and comfortable orthotics.
Some of the common causes of plantar fasciitis include the following:
- Excessive pronation or roll inward of the feet.
- Standing, walking, or running for long periods.
- High foot arch or flat feet.
- Becoming overweight.
- Wearing tied-fitted shoes or shoes that are two sizes smaller than the feet.
- The tightness of the Achilles tendon or calf muscles.
Home remedies for plantar fasciitis—the most common treatment for plantar fasciitis
Home remedies for plantar fasciitis are one of the best treatment methods used to cure plantar fasciitis.
Listed below are the most popular and effective home remedies for plantar fasciitis:
Ice
Ice is probably the cheapest and one of the most effective home remedies. If you have an ice pack, use it. If not, you can even use frozen peas. Massage the painful area for around 15 minutes, five times a day. Ice can help to bring down swelling and reduce inflammation.
Protective arch-support insoles
You should purchase arch support insoles and place them in your shoes. This can help reduce pain and divert some impacts, bringing relief when you move around. If possible, you should wear them at home when moving around.
Stretching
Whenever possible during the day, you should perform stretching exercises targeted at your legs. Exercises that stretch the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia will help to increase flexibility and warm the area up, reducing pain.
Massages using creams or oils
Massage the painful area with pain relief creams or even medicated oils multiple times daily. Massages with medicated oils will help increase blood circulation in the legs, bringing pain relief and promoting healing.
Foot splints
When you turn in for the day, you should use foot splints to brace the foot, ankle, and lower leg. The main purpose of the splint is to provide gradual stretches of the plantar fascia throughout the night, reducing stress levels, pain, and inflammation. Since the stretching continues through the night, you will experience less pain when you wake up.
Plantar fasciitis is a troublesome and painful leg condition that causes discomfort day and night. It is not good to depend on pain relief medication, and whenever possible, you should substitute it with some home remedies.
Plantar fasciitis treatment exercises are an essential part of treatment for plantar fasciitis.
Foot stretches and exercises can help plantar fasciitis by relieving pain, improving muscle strength, and promoting flexibility in the foot muscles and ligaments.
This plantar fasciitis treatment exercise can be performed two or three times every day.
Stretching the calf
Muscle tightness in the feet and calves can worsen plantar fasciitis pain. Loosening the calf muscles can relieve the pain. Try the following stretch:
- Lean your hands against a wall
- Straighten the knee of the affected leg and bend the other knee in front
- Keep both feet flat on the ground
- There should be a stretching sensation in the heel and calf of the extended leg
Foot flexes
Flexing the foot increases blood flow to the area and relieves tension in the calves, which can help with the pain. This exercise uses an elastic stretch band, which people can buy from sports stores or online.
Towel curls
Curling a hand towel or facecloth with the toes can stretch the foot and calf muscles. Try doing these stretches before walking or doing any other morning tasks.
Yoga for plantar fasciitis: a traditional oriental treatment for plantar fasciitis
Yoga for plantar fasciitis can help stretch and strengthen the legs and feet, which reduces and even relieves plantar fasciitis.
Listed below are basic yoga poses for plantar fasciitis that can be effective and become the answer to how to cure plantar fasciitis
- Basic seated posture: Sit at the front edge of your chair with your spine lengthened, tummy pulled in slightly, chest lifted, shoulders relaxed down and away from your ears, feet on the floor, and knees directly over your ankles. Breathe gently and evenly.
- Basic standing posture: standing straight, feet hip-width apart, feet pointed forward, legs active, tummy pulled in slightly, chest lifted, shoulders back and dropped away from ears, gaze forward, and crown of the head lifted, neck and spine lengthened. Breathe gently and evenly.
- Seated straight leg, foot, and ankle warm-ups: From your basic seated posture, extend your legs straight in front of you with your knees straight and your heels on the floor. Start by wiggling your toes. Next, warm up the ankles by flexing and extending both feet, pointing your toes toward and away from you. Loosen the ankles further by drawing circles with your feet. First, one direction, then repeat in the opposite direction. Do this for three to five breaths.
Chinese herbs for plantar fasciitis
As the saying goes, “As a person ages, the heel grows old.” Heel pain is commonly found in middle-aged and elderly groups. About 10 percent of the population has suffered from heel pain in their lifetime. The pain site is usually located in the heel area of one or both sides of the leg and is not usually swollen. Prolonged walking, standing, extending, or flexing your toes can intensify the pain.
Most of the body weight falls on the heel. Below the heel is a dense layer of subcutaneous fat known as a fat pad. Small bags of liquid called bursae protect the Achilles tendon in the heel. The plantar fascia and the short flexor of the toes are thick connective tissues connected to the calcaneus (heel bone).
Pathological changes in the calcaneus bone, joint, bursa, fat pad, and fascia cause heel pain. Plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia) accounts for about 80 percent of heel pain patients.
In Chinese medicine, yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys, internal phlegm, blood heat, etc., typically causes heel pain. Soft tissue is classified into the hepatic system, and bones are classified into the renal system. When there is a deficiency in the liver and kidney systems, Qi and blood cannot nourish the heel, and the lack of nutrients will lead to heel pain. External pathogens such as “wind,” “cold,” and “humidity,” trauma, or chronic fatigue can also cause pain as they cause obstruction of Qi and blood flow, resulting in blocked meridians and blood stasis.
Common Chinese medicine herbs used for heel pain:
Tou Gu Cao (Caulis Impatientis), Ru Xiang (Frankincense), Chuan Niu Xi (Cyathula Root), Wei Ling Xian (Radix Clematidis), Mo Yao (Myrrh).
Function: Increase blood circulation and relieve pain
Acupuncture for plantar fasciitis—an ancient Chinese treatment for plantar fasciitis
One of the best treatment methods for healing plantar fasciitis quickly is acupuncture for plantar fasciitis.
Acupuncture for plantar fasciitis improves plantar heel pain through several pathways. One way is that the insertion of needles causes a local effect on nerve endings, releasing neuropeptides that help eliminate pain. There is also some excellent research showing that a substance called adenosine is released during acupuncture, has a potent pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effect, and promotes blood flow to the area.
Researchers have also demonstrated that the body releases its opioids, known as the body’s natural painkiller. During acupuncture treatment, there is less activity in brain regions associated with pain perception and increased activity in areas that regulate our response to pain.
Homeopathy for plantar fasciitis: #1 natural treatment for plantar fasciitis
Homeopathy is an effective and safe natural treatment for plantar fasciitis. It helps to ease the pain and stiffness, including the inflammatory process. It also provides long-term relief and helps the affected individual avoid using the scalpel in most medically treatable heel pain cases.
Apis mellifica, Arnica Montana, Bellis perennis, and Rhododendron ferrugineum are common homeopathic medicines that help with plantar fasciitis.
This homeopathic remedy for plantar fasciitis is one of the best remedies for plantar fasciitis, as indicated when the affected part of the body is swollen or sensitive to touch with pain and redness. Other symptoms where Apis Mellifica is prescribed are swelling in the heel or sole of the feet, swelling or redness of the heel, and burning pain that is eased with the application of ice.
Typically, a fall or other physical injury will result in the prescription of this homeopathic treatment for plantar fasciitis. Common symptoms for which Arnica Montana is prescribed are pain that improves with heat or warmth and heel pain due to footwear.
This homeopathic remedy for plantar fasciitis mainly treats deep tissue injuries after surgery. It is also indicated for the following symptoms: sore feet, damaged muscle fibers, physical damage leading to deep bruising, injured nerves that result in excruciating pain, and sensitivity to coldness.
This homeopathic remedy for plantar fasciitis is widely used in cases of nerve damage and for dealing with post-surgery blues. It is also helpful in cases of burning sensations and numbness. People who benefit from Hypericum perforatum also experience the following symptoms: Burning pain, Pain due to nerve damage, which is felt arising from the heel to the lumbar region, and tingling pain or numbness.
Kalium bichromicum is a homeopathic remedy for plantar fasciitis that is best suited to fair, fat individuals with a syphilitic or scrofulous history. Symptoms where Kali Bichromicum can be introduced are wandering pain, sore feet when applying pressure, and pain in the Achilles tendon.
Patients who benefit from this homeopathic remedy for plantar fasciitis experience the following symptoms:
- Swelling,
- Pain around the heel,
- Painful soles, which make walking impossible.
- Pain increases at night and when lying on the bed; reduce pain by applying ice or anything cold.
This homeopathic remedy for plantar fasciitis is prescribed where symptoms are agitated around the time of a storm and get better after the storm breaks out. Common symptoms where medicine is advised are swollen heels and pain that worsens while resting the feet.
Rhus toxicodendron is a homeopathic remedy for plantar fasciitis that often applies to damage to fibrous tissues and tendons, resulting in pain. Common symptoms that indicate a need for this remedy are burning and pain in the affected area, tearing pain in the ligaments and tissues around the heel, sensitivity to cold, tingling sensation in feet, and increased pain while resting.
Conclusion on treatment for plantar fasciitis
The treatment for plantar fasciitis is mostly palliative. Home remedies for plantar fasciitis are as effective as pharmaceutical drugs.
If you suffer from plantar fasciitis and prefer to treat it naturally, contact the Philadelphia Holistic Clinic and schedule your first appointment with Victor Tsan, MD. Dr. Tsan will examine you and propose the most effective treatment customized for your form of plantar fasciitis.
