Treat your feet with more care

In the course of an average day, many people will walk 6,000 to 10,000 steps, which adds up to almost 129,000 kilometres in your lifetime.  Don’t forget the small bones of the foot, complex tendons and ligaments that control movement and feet being squeezed into ridiculous shoes - it’s not surprising feet are sometimes sore and need more care.

How does Plantar Fasciitis happen?

Plantar fasciitis happens when the plantar fascia ligament is over-stretched and tears at the connection to the heel. This ligament runs along the bottom of the arch, from the toes to the heel.

The injury often occurs as the result of footwear with inadequate arch support, cushioning, or improper stretching before physical activity, particularly repetitive running or jumping. You don’t have to be an athlete to get it – at Back In Motion we see Plantar Fasciitis impacting people of all walks of life.

What does Plantar Fasciitis feel like?

A client with plantar fasciitis will feel sharp or burning pain in the heel. The pain is a more intense first thing in the morning or after a period of sitting or resting.

During those times, the ligament tightens to resume its normal position. When full body weight is suddenly exerted on the ligament, it is forcefully pulled again.

What treatment works for Plantar Fasciitis?

It’s important to seek a physio’s advice for the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis so that you avoid more severe injury and don’t allow the pain to cause you to alter your foot position and throw the rest of your body into misalignment – this causes more issues down the track.

Plantar Fasciitis treatments can include custom orthotics, foot exercises and shockwave therapy.

Don’t underestimate the importance of your feet – they may be small and sometimes unsightly parts of our body, but the feet have a huge influence on our overall health throughout life. Take your feet seriously, otherwise, you may find yourself without a leg to stand on when it really counts.

Want to find out more? Get in touch with your local Back in Motion practice, and find out what the best options are for your unique circumstances and goals.