Dear Foot Blogger Chick,
I was on the internet the other day and I saw some videos for taping your foot to ease the pain of plantar fasciitis. Does it work? Should I try it?
Thanks for your help,
Pain from Plantar
Dear Pain,
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that occurs when the band of tendons that run along the bottom of your foot (from your heel to the arch of your foot) become inflamed. The band of tendons (called the plantar fascia) can be irritated due to various possible problems. Plantar fasciitis is very painful and it can take a long time to heal. The condition can be due to foot arch problems (either high or low), a sudden weight gain, a tight Achilles tendon, or shoes that do not have proper support for your arches.
The plantar fascia takes a lot of punishment when you are walking or exercising. All the pressure from your movements go to the plantar fascia and it can get inflamed from overuse or any of the changes mentioned above.
The pain from plantar fasciitis is usually felt as heel pain. It will be much stronger first thing in the morning when you get up and then it can lessen during the day and then come back in the afternoon or evening. It is worse in the morning because your muscles are not stretched out and then later in the day, your muscles are tired and the area has been overused again.
There are many things that your friendly local podiatrist can do to help relieve the pain and start the healing process.
The taping that you are asking about is one method to help relieve the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Taping will limit the movement of the fascia therefore helping it to heal. The following is one demonstration of how to tape your foot.
It is recommended that you tape in the morning and remove the tape in the evening. In order to get the tape to stick better, you should make sure the area is clean and use a non-moisturizing soap.
There are several methods of taping so make sure you ask your friendly local podiatrist what he or she recommends.
If you are having a lot of pain, it may be that using a heel cup or padding in the heel of your shoe to absorb some of the shock would be helpful. Again, this would be a recommendation from your podiatrist. It may be that you need custom orthotics but a heel cup could help until the orthotics are prepared.
Your Pal,
The Foot Blogger Chick
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to send them to footbloggerchick@gmail.com or leave them in the comment section below. I am not a doctor but I check with one before answering questions.
Trivia Question of the week – Which first baseman has been pulled for the rest of the season so that his plantar fasciitis might be healed for next year?
Find the answer on our Facebook page – Evanston Podiatric Surgeons – on August 9. While you’re there, please take a moment to “like” us.
Or
Follow us on twitter – @EvPodiatric and the answer will be tweeted on Friday morning as well.
If you live or work downtown Chicago and would like to see one of the friendly podiatrists there, don’t worry! You can head over to the office on the “Magnificent Mile” in Chicago. Stop in and say “Hello”. They would love to meet you. They are really that friendly!
Mag Mile Foot and Ankle Institute
333 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 1825
Chicago, IL 60601
312-236-3507