| Healthwatch: Treating plantar fasciitis |
| Thursday, 02 February 2012 16:15 |
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The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a thin ligament that attaches to the bottom of your foot. It goes between your heel and the ball of your foot. This ligament sometimes can take a significant amount of pressure and weight and as it absorbs that pressure and weight if it's overstressed a little tiny fiber of the ligament can tare and this can cause significant heel pain. Some people describe it as searing or burning heel pain and it's usually worse in the morning. What to do about plantar fasciitis is relatively simple but requires persistence. Usually there's no surgery or procedure involved. You just have to ice, sometimes rest, also wearing heel support or arch support helps, and then most importantly stretch. The icing is usually for fifteen to twenty minutes two or three times a day. Stretching though should be five or six times a day. My favorite stretch involves standing on the top of a stair and then dropping your heel. If this persist for more than a few months you really should see your family doctor and have it looked at or treated further if there continues to be pain. Dr. Nancy Babbitt Creekside Medical Clinic |

