Common Cause Of Foot Pain

Our feet are probably the most abused parts of the body. We use our feet the moment we get out of bed, it bears the weight of the whole body and imagine the tremendous stress we put on our feet when we run or lift heavy loads.  

It is no wonder why we experience foot pain every now and then. But if foot pain does not go away in a few days, you may have a foot condition that’s causing all your pain.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the common causes of chronic heel pain. The plantar fascia is a very strong connective tissue that attaches to the calcaneous bone or heel bone to the metatarsal bones, and is responsible for maintaining the arch of the foot. Usually, the plantar fascia gets micro injuries when using the wrong footwear, lifting heavy weights, sports and due to old age.

Another common cause of foot pain is Achilles tendinitis. The Achilles tendon is also a very strong ligament, just like the plantar fascia. This time, the Achilles tendon is found behind the foot, and it attaches behind the heel bone to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles above. Just like the plantar fascia, the Achilles tendon can also suffer from micro injuries which causes a lot of pain.

One way to manage foot pain is to do the RICE method. 

Rest. Allowing the foot to rest is very important to stop further injuries to the plantar fascia or Achilles tendon. This will allow the micro injuries to heal.

Ice. Applying cold stimuli to the foot can relieve pain and inflammation. Do this in 2-3 minute intervals, too much isn’t good too, because it can actually aggravate the pain.

Compression. Wrapping the affected foot with an elastic bandage is a good way reduce swelling, it is also good in immobilizing the foot. Remember not to wrap the bandage too tight.

Elevate. Elevating the foot above the heart is an excellent way to alleviate swelling of the foot. This prevents any “pooling” on the affected foot.

Treat Your Heel Pain With RICE!!!

The best time to go outdoors and have a lot of fun with your family and friends is the summer time. This is the best time to go to the beach, go camping or do all sorts of outdoor stuff. But if you feel pain on your foot, like for example heel pain when you take your first step when you wake up in the morning or heel pain when you step out of the car, this may mean plantar fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is a strong fibrous tissue found underneath the foot. It attaches at the calcaneus or heel bone to the balls of the foot. This structure is very important since it maintains the arch of the foot. The plantar fascia is under constant stress when walking, running, or when lifting weights. 

With every step, the first part of the foot that hits the ground is the heel bone and this area can be a source of irritation and inflammation that can affect not only the heel bone but the plantar fascia as well. Also, when the plantar fascia is over stretched, this can cause microscopic wounds which can cause pain.

Plantar fasciitis is commonly found among the elderly due to the natural wear and tear of the plantar fascia. This condition also affects athletes, more particularly runners.

If you are affected by this, don’t let your heel pain ruin your wonderful summer days. There are several ways to alleviate the pain caused by plantar fasciitis. One easy way is the RICE method.

Rest. Resting the foot is one way of stopping heel pain due to plantar fasciitis. If the foot is allowed to rest for an extended period of time, this can promote wound healing and may cure plantar fasciitis.

Ice. Cold stimuli can control pain and swelling. 

Compression. Wrapping the foot with elastic bandages can help control swelling. Remember not to put the bandages too tight to allow proper blood circulation.

Elevate. Rising the foot above the heart is the best way to reduce swelling. Raising the foot allows venous return.

Another alternative way to treat this type of pain especially if it’s already causing chronic pain is EWST or Extracorporeal ShockWave Therapy. This procedure uses shockwaves to allow the plantar fascia to heal naturally. This is a non-invasive procedure and lasts for just a few minutes per session. For most patients, pain relief is felt immediately after only one session.

Easy Management Of Minor Sports Injuries

Image via WikipediaJoining sports activities is a lot of fun. Also, getting involved in these activities is good for your health. But in any sport, accidents could happen and can cause all kinds of injuries like sprains on the foot that can cause mild to severe heel pain or foot pain.

Though this is a common occurrence in any type of activity, this could be easily managed. A lot of trainers who almost always encounter this medical condition recommend rest, ice, compression and elevation method or more commonly known as the R.I.C.E. method.

Rest is first. Giving the affected foot some rest will promote healing. Allowing the foot to rest for two days is enough time for it to recover from minor injuries. Of course, the length of time differs from the severity of injury but a couple days are enough for most injuries.

Remember not to use any pain killers during this period. Healing is only successful if the foot is not used for a given time. Also, the occurrence of pain is the basis for how long you should rest the foot. Pain killers temporarily remove the pain and tempt you to use your foot.

Ice packs signigicantly reduce inflammation and pain. Exposing the affected area with cold stimuli can numb the area, reducing pain drastically. It also can cause vasoconstriction; therefore, reducing accumulation of fluids that can cause swelling.

Compression is also a good way to immobilize the foot and also helps control swelling.

Elevating the foot also helps prevent swelling because it assists in venous return to the heart, preventing any fluid accumulation to the foot.

The RICE is the initial management in reducing pain and swelling. For persistent heel pain, consult your podiatrist.