Symptoms Of Plantar Fasciitis In The Foot That May Require Immediate Attention
Knowing what to look out for in regards to plantar fasciitis symptoms can mean the difference between reducing the pain as it becomes apparent and suffering over the longer term. The initial symptoms of plantar fasciitis reported by sufferers include intense pain felt in the soles of their feet when taking the first steps in the morning. The pain subsides after these first few steps but does return if the sufferer spends too much time on their feet (either walking or standing) throughout the rest of the day. This initial pain if left untreated can then lead to pain further up the leg.
While plantar fasciitis symptoms are not all that varied, there are preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting this heel pain injury. If you work in an environment that requires you to do a great deal of working or spend a large amount of time on your feet then this can be a symptom unto itself. Ensure that you take breaks sitting down hourly. If your feet roll inwards when you walk, this can also be one of the pre-cursor plantar fasciitis symptoms as well. Although the symptom is not as pronounced as intense pain in the soles of your feet, it can, in fact, place unnecessary stress upon the plantar fascia. The plantar fasciitis symptoms involving pain may just be around the corner if proper steps are not taken to retrain the muscle memory in your legs and feet in order to improve your walking technique.
Wearing shoes that fit poorly or are have poor support and cushioning can also be another one of the pre-cursor plantar fasciitis symptoms. Poorly fitting or unsuitable footwear that offers little or no support to the base of the foot can cause a great deal of stress to the plantar fascia. In fact, one of the first things you should do when considering plantar fasciitis treatment is to wear proper shoes. Ensure that you select shoes that give you proper support to the arches of your feet in the event you intend to use them for cross country or recreational running. The same applies if you are spending large amounts of time on your feet walking or carrying large amounts of weight across uneven or differing surfaces (such as what construction laborers have to deal with). Orthotics for shoes can also help prevent or alleviate the symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
Dealing with plantar fasciitis symptoms may require you to understand the probable cause of the heel pain injury as it relates to you as an individual. It may require you to take a few days off work and reduce the amount of exercise you do in order to allow the plantar fascia to recuperate. An excellent way to reduce the painful plantar fasciitis symptoms that arise from taking those 1st few steps in the morning is exercising the foot prior to getting out of bed to loosen up the tendons surrounding the plantar fascia. Better yet, you should think about wearing a plantar fasciitis night splint to keep the plantar fascia stretched out all night. You may also need to consider losing a bit of weight to relieve the pressure that is put on your feet and heels when standing and walking.
Overweight individuals or people who find that they are rapidly gaining weight are also at risk of contracting plantar fasciitis. It is important for people approaching middle age to get into the habit of doing regular exercise and controlling their diet in order to lose weight and reduce this risk. Try and take breaks between large bouts of exercise in order to reduce the risk of contracting plantar fasciitis that stems from overdoing it. It may seem like a difficult tightrope of balancing exercise with adequate rest in order to reduce the risk; however, it is one that is imperative to ensure that your feet stay healthy.
