Working With Your Podiatrist

A Few Plantar Fasciitis Relief Treatments That Manage Pain And Support Healing

25 May 2022

Lillian Kelley

Plantar fasciitis often causes pain in your heel and the bottom of your foot. It's one of the most common causes of heel pain, and it can interfere with your ability to go about your usual activities. The first step in plantar fasciitis relief is to see a podiatrist for a diagnosis so they can recommend the best treatment for you. Here are some plantar fasciitis relief treatments that might help.

Keep Your Foot Stretched

You may have noticed your pain seems worse first thing in the morning. This happens because you suddenly stretch your inflamed fascia when you take your first steps. If you sleep in a sock or boot that pulls your toes toward your shin, your fascia remains stretched all night so you can start the morning with less pain. These aids are made to be comfortable so they shouldn't interfere with your ability to sleep well all night.

Use Ice To Decrease Inflammation

Instead of staying on your feet all day, stop and rest your feet periodically. Elevate them and use ice to help decrease swelling. Inflammation can make your pain feel worse, so finding ways to decrease it can make it easier to live with plantar fasciitis while your injured fascia is healing.

Go To Physical Therapy

Your podiatrist might recommend physical therapy so you can learn stretching and strengthening exercises for your lower leg and foot. Your physical therapist might also administer iontophoresis. This uses low-voltage current to deliver corticosteroids into your injured tissues.

Take Shock Wave Treatments

Shock wave treatments are sometimes used to provide plantar fasciitis relief. The shock waves cause a tiny bit of injury to your fascia so your body's repair response is triggered. While repairing the induced injury, your body can also speed up the repair of the injury that's causing your pain.

Try Orthotics And Supportive Shoes

Wearing shoes that don't support your arches, such as flat sandals, contributes to plantar fasciitis. Your podiatrist might recommend you change your footwear to more supportive shoes. They might also recommend custom orthotics or over-the-counter shoe inserts depending on your condition. The inserts might be for supporting your arches or padding your heels so you can stay on your feet longer during the day.

Plantar fasciitis relief treatments help manage pain and support healing. Plantar fasciitis can often heal gradually on its own, but that can take many months. If you run, play sports, or have a physically demanding job, you'll probably want help from a podiatrist to heal quickly and properly so you can get back to your routine.

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