Plantar Fascitis

Plantar what?

Symptoms

The most common complaint is pain and stiffness in the bottom of the heel. The heel pain may be dull or sharp. The bottom of the foot may also ache or burn.

The pain is usually worse:

Ø  In the morning when you take your first steps

Ø  After standing or sitting for a while

Ø  When climbing stairs

Ø  After intense activity

The pain may develop slowly over time, or suddenly after intense activity.

Signs and tests

The doctor will perform a physical exam. This may show:

Ø  Tenderness on the bottom of your foot

Ø  Flat feet or high arches

Ø  Mild foot swelling or redness

Ø  Stiffness or tightness of the arch in the bottom of your foot.

X-rays may be taken to rule out other problems, but having a heel spur is not significant.

Treatment

Your doctor will usually first recommend:

Ø  Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to reduce pain and inflammation

Ø  Heel stretching exercises

Ø  Resting as much as possible for at least a week

Ø  Wearing shoes with good support and cushions

Other steps to relieve pain include:

Ø  Apply ice to the painful area. Do this at least twice a day for 10 - 15 minutes, more often in the first couple of days.

Ø  Try wearing a heel cup, felt pads in the heel area, or shoe inserts.

Ø  Use night splints to stretch the injured fascia and allow it to heal.

from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reflexology Treatment Benefits

Reflexology is beneficial because it stretches and relieves heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis.  During this special massage treatment, ligaments and muscles of the foot are relaxed and loosened, in addition to the calf muscles. The entire lower leg and foot experiences increased circulation, muscle relief and improved flexibility. Those who routinely go for a reflexology session experience less pain in the foot, heel and lower leg and are able to maintain full flexibility when doing daily activities.