Readers Respond: How Do You Cope with Plantar Fasciitis?

Responses: 9

How Do You Cope with Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel. This chronic injury can come and go for years, but new stretching techniques show promise in reducing the symptoms.

Do you have a secret way of reducing the heel pain of plantar fasciitis? Share your tips and tricks for coping with plantar fasciitis. Share Your Tips

Taping

Taping is a treatment that really worked for me. Taping is simply to put a tape on your foot sole. There are many taping techniques which you can find in the internet. The tape keeps the foot from stretching while in action so there is less pain and less injury. I did try many treatments and taping did the best job for me.

—Guest Ezra

I'm in pain

I received a cortisone shot which took the pain away. Now the other foot has an Achilles issue. My feet don't want me to exercise.

—Guest Tonieo

plantar pain

I developed plantar pain recently in my left arch while adding miles for a fall marathon. I went to the Dr who said "rest". I also got excellent advice from a running mentor who knew and suggested 2 things: regular doses of Vitamin I (ibuprofen) and wearing my running shoes 24-7, yes especially even to bed. Pain free in about 10 days and running again in less than 3 weeks, I'm a believer in this prescription. The theory is that the tendon shrinks while you rest in bed, then when you apply weight with your first step in the morning it stretches and micro tears again, hence the pain. When you wear shoes with correct arch support it doesn't shrink as much and the healing happens faster. Try it, your wife won't like it but I swear it works....

—Guest running junky

trying something new

I stumbled across a book that makes the claim that the padded "comfort shoes" are a big reason for the increase in running injuries including fasciitis. Their theory is to go to a more basic barefoot run to increase foot strength. I've tried it for a couple weeks now and think it is working! Time will tell, but for me this is hopeful. I missed not being able to run.

—Guest mark

hi runners

Hi all, I developed Plantar Fasciitis during the start of my training. I switched to treadmill running instead of running on hard surfaces which helped a bit but now run every other day and do flexion exercise and use ice packs. I hope this may help

—Guest blondedude1988

Wear a boot.

I think I've tried everything over the past few years, including foot massage, stretching, icing and even custom orthotics. They all help in combination, but I think the one thing that really helped kick it was after activity, I would ice my foot and then while relaxing watching tv or whatever, I would put one of those PF boots on and really keep it stretched for a good long time. Now, whenever I start to feel some symptoms, I put the boot on.

—Guest Ray

stretch

Gentle stretching and rolling my foot back and forth over a can of soup has helped. Getting better cushioned shoes also is a good idea.

—Guest kp101

rest and ice and massage

I had heel pain for several months after increasing my running mileage and running on sidewalks. What worked for me was resting - no running for three weeks. I switched to cycling and going to the gym to row. Every day I iced and massaged my foot. I now stretch it regularly before I run and the pain hasn't come back.

—Guest Deana

Wooden Foot Massager

I use a wooden foot massager. While I sit at my desk and work, I roll my feet over the massager. This helps relieve some of the pain.

—Guest Joy