Plantar Fasciitis One Of The Leading Causes Of Heel Pain

It is pretty common for adults to experience some kind of foot problem, especially on the heel area. Heel pain is one of the common foot problems of adults. This occurs because of the natural wear and tear of the foot. Sadly, daily exercise and activities that are supposed to be good for your health, can be stressful for the foot.

The calcaneus bone or commonly called the heel bone is largest the largest bone of the foot. This large bone is the first structure of the foot that hits the ground when walking or running. Under the foot, there is a very important structure called the plantar fascia. This is a very strong and tough connective tissue, it attaches to the calcaneus bone to the balls of the foot and it keeps the arch of the foot intact. Because of this the plantar fascia is under constant stress especially when carrying heavy objects. Due to the attachment of the plantar fascia below the heel bone, this area can be a source of irritation.

When these structure gets excessively stretched, this puts a lot of stress on the fascia and causes irritation making the heel area inflamed. This is called plantar fascia and this condition is probably the most common cause of heel pain. People who are into sports like runners, sprinters, football, basketball players are prone to develop plantar fasciitis. This occurs because of abrupt force delivered to the foot and irritating the plantar fascia. Certain conditions that can lead to plantar fasciitis are being overweight, having diabetes, or wearing tight or wrong footwear.

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis are heel pain on the first steps after getting out of bed in the morning or stepping out of a car. Pain gradually deceases after a few steps but pain could heighten up again during the day especially on long standing or climbing up the stairs.

A thorough physical exam and past medical history is expected for a podiatrist to properly diagnose foot pain due to plantar fasciitis. There are different causes of foot pain that can show similar symptoms of plantar fasciitis. A correct diagnosis is the key to proper treatment.

There are several approaches in treating heel pain and the goal is to relieve the forces that are causing the plantar fascia to be stretched excessively. At home, there are easy ways to relieve foot pain. Resting the foot is an effective way to stop the pain. If the foot is allowed to rest long enough, this can encourage healing of the plantar fascia. Ice packs or cold compress provide quick relief of pain and swelling. If pain still persists after these basic treatments, then a podiatrist is needed.

Basic Steps to Take Care Of Your Body

Image via WikipediaIf you're aiming to keep yourself in good physical shape, especially with advancing age, it is never really too late. When it comes to healthy living, there is no age limit and starting off with a well-balanced diet comprising of fruits, nuts, green leafy vegetables, fish, and a right serving of meat is the initial step.

Next is proper exercise to promote muscle tone and increase blood circulation which is actually great for your heart and lungs. Always remember to take your daily doses of vitamins and minerals. It is also important to eat foods rich in antioxidants, this will help reduce free radicals and could prevent cancer. These are beans (red, red kidney), berries (wild berries, blue berries), vegetables (spinach, kale), and even coffee, rich in antioxidants.

Another important aspect of keeping your body healthy is of course is to prevent any kind of injury as much as possible. If you have sustained an injury or in any kind of chronic pain, seek medical attention immediately.

One of the most ignored injures of the body is probably anything involving the foot. At times, we can manage or treat any kind of heel or foot pain with pain relievers, a simple massage or placing ice packs on the affected area. But when the pain persists in spite of all these simple treatments, we tend to take more pain relievers than usual. When the injury is not managed properly, this can lead to chronic foot pain. All sorts of foot pain conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunion or Achilles tendinitis can occur and with these kinds of conditions, it is best to consult a podiatrist.

Family Foot and Leg Center is a medical center specializing in healing health issues with lower leg and ankle. Come to us to get treatment for all your foot and lower leg disorders.

Do Not Ignore Your Heel Pain

Image via WikipediaHeel pain affects hundreds of people each year. Sad to say, this health condition is mostly ignored in America. Statistics show that foot injuries in America are very common compared to other parts of the body. Surprisingly, the feet rank lowest on the list of body parts and functions that Americans consider important to their health according to the American Podiatric Medical Association.

The condition of the foot is directly proportional to a person's quality of life and health. When our feet are functioning normally and in good condition, we can do about anything and have a normal, pain-free life, without any kind of limitations.

However, when the foot is under some sort of pathologic condition and is experiencing even the slightest pain, this could mean all sorts of health conditions like diabetes, arthritis, obesity, circulatory problems and a lot more.

Most often, Americans don't seek a podiatrist even when experiencing foot pain and usually self medicate by taking pain relievers. This practice provides only temporary relieve and in fact, this can cause more injury to the foot.

We experience foot pain when there is something wrong with its biomechanics. This could be an inflamed fascia, a torn ligament, a slight fracture or even just a minor irritation. This pain tells the brain not put too much pressure to the affected foot, that's why we sometimes limp when we walk. Sometimes, when pain is severe, we are forced to rest and lay immobilized even if we don't want to. This has an important purpose, as resting the foot allows it to heal itself. Now, if we take pain medications this healing process is skipped and can lead to further injury or worse: chronic heel or foot pain.

Family Foot and Leg Center is a medical center specializing in healing health issues with lower leg and ankle. Come to us to get treatment for all your foot and lower leg disorders.