| There are many different methods of plantar fasciitis | | | | from damage. |
| treatment but there is no one treatment that works | | | | 8. Plantar fasciitis night splint is worn overnight and |
| for everyone. Different treatments help different | | | | gently stretches the calf muscles and plantar fascia |
| people. Patients need to be active in their treatment. | | | | preventing it from tightening up overnight. |
| Experimenting with several different treatments is | | | | 9. Orthotics or inserts that your doctor may |
| often necessary before finding those that help. | | | | prescribe. Off-the-shelf or custom-fitted arch |
| Here are the most common plantar fasciitis | | | | supports (orthotics) to help distribute pressure to |
| treatment methods: | | | | your feet more evenly. Arch Support provides a |
| 1. Rest until the pain goes away. It can be very | | | | slight lift to the arch helping to support the plantar |
| difficult to rest the foot as most people will be on | | | | fascia. There are also over-the-counter orthotics that |
| their feet during the day for work. By walking on the | | | | may be used for arch support and cushioning the |
| painful foot you are continually aggravating the injury | | | | heel. Heel cradles and heel cups provide extra |
| and increasing inflammation. Rest as much as possible | | | | comfort, cushion the heel, and reduce the amount of |
| and stop any unnecessary activities which place | | | | shock and shear forces placed during everyday |
| additional stress on the fascia. | | | | activities. |
| 2. Gait analysis will determine if you overpronate or | | | | 10. Anti-inflammatory or Pain medication that a clinician |
| oversupinate. An expert may perform a test of the | | | | may recommend. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
| way you stand and walk to see if you step in a way | | | | such as ibuprofen can reduce swelling and relieve pain. |
| that put more stress on the plantar fascia. | | | | However, these medications have many possible side |
| 3. Cold therapy, like applying ice, to help reduce pain | | | | effects and it is important to weigh the potential |
| and inflammation. Cold therapy can be applied | | | | risks and benefits. |
| regularly until symptoms have resolved. Some | | | | 11. Lose weight as much as you can. Extra pounds |
| patients prefer to roll their foot over an iced cold | | | | put extra stress on your plantar fascia. |
| drink can or bottle taken out of the freezer. | | | | 12. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a |
| 4. Physical therapy Exercises, Stretching and other | | | | procedure when sound waves are directed at the |
| physical therapy measures may be used to help | | | | area of heel pain to stimulate healing. It is usually |
| provide relief. | | | | used for chronic plantar fasciitis that has not |
| 5. Exercise the feet muscles to make them stronger. | | | | responded to more conservative treatments. This |
| One good exercise is grabbing and lifting up a towel | | | | procedure may cause bruises, swelling, pain, |
| or marbles using your toes. You can do the same | | | | numbness or tingling, and has not been shown to be |
| exercise without a towel as though you are grasping | | | | consistently effective. |
| something with the toes of each foot. Another good | | | | 13. Corticosteroid injection into the tender area may |
| exercise is walking as tall as you can on your toes | | | | provide relief in severe cases. Medications of this |
| and ball of your feet. | | | | class reduce inflammation powerfully. Corticosteroid |
| 6. Stretching the plantar fascia and the calf muscles | | | | injections can provide short-term relief from the pain |
| several times a day is an important part of treatment | | | | caused by plantar fasciitis. Symptom relief from |
| and prevention. There are many stretching exercises | | | | corticosteroid injection lasts for 3 to 6 weeks, but |
| for the plantar fascia and the calf muscles that you | | | | often the effect wears off and symptoms come |
| can find. Simply reducing pain and inflammation alone | | | | back. |
| is unlikely to result in long term recovery. The plantar | | | | 14. Surgery to release the plantar fascia from its |
| fascia tightens up making the origin at the heel more | | | | attachment may be necessary. Surgery is rarely |
| susceptible to stress. | | | | required for people with plantar fasciitis. It would only |
| 7. Plantar fasciitis taping technique can help the foot | | | | be recommended if all other treatments fail and the |
| get the rest it needs by supporting the plantar fascia. | | | | person had persistent symptoms for at least 6 to 12 |
| Taping supports the foot, placing stressed muscles | | | | months. |
| and tendons in a physiologically restful state.Tape is | | | | THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL |
| applied in strips across the plantar fascia taking the | | | | ADVICE. IT IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL |
| stress off the fascia. By restricting the foot | | | | PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT A PHYSICIAN |
| movement and flexibility the tape keeps the fascia | | | | FOR SPECIFIC TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS. |