Any athlete is at risk of foot problems, and anyone who does a lot of running or repetitive exercise is more likely to develop painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis that occur from overuse of the joints and ligaments of the feet.
If you’re suffering from plantar fasciitis, it may help to know that you’re not alone. In recent years, many high profile athletes have developed the condition, which is characterised by sharp pain in the heel when the plantar fascia, which connects the toes to the heel, becomes damaged or inflamed.
Famous athletes who have experienced plantar fasciitis include high profile US baseball star Albert Pujols and basketballer Joakim Noah.
How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
If you are experiencing the very painful condition that is plantar fasciitis, you may wish to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Most of the recommendations for rehabilitating an injury of this type, however, are for treatments at home. These include:
- It may impede your plans for training, but if you fail to rest your injury, you may end up causing further damage and affecting your long-term ability to train. It’s important to rest for as long as you need in order to allow your plantar fascia and the surrounding tissues to repair themselves fully.
- Ice can be very helpful if the problem you are experiencing is due to swelling or inflammation. Freezing a plastic bottle filled with water and then rolling your foot over it can be a very useful technique to help your recovery.
- Although it sounds contrary when rest is of the greatest importance, there are some specific exercises that can help to rehabilitate and heal the damage done. One such exercise is to stand on a stair, with your heels hanging off the back of the step, and to lower your heels so that they are below your toes. This creates the opposing pressure to the usual movement of the feet and encourages healing in this area.
- Wearing the right shoes. The most significant, and the easiest, step you can take to help heal a problem such as plantar fasciitis, and to prevent it from occurring again in the future, is to wear good shoes. You should always train in shoes that provide a good level of support and protection to your feet, with plenty of cushioning and arch support to ensure your feet are comfortable and healthy.
Find Shoes to Relieve Foot Pain in Ireland
Your shoes are the key to comfort whether you’re working, training or having fun. Good shoes will help to keep your feet healthy and fit for carrying you around all day, and you can find the best shoes for your feet at a Foot Solutions store near you.
