Much as walking or running regularly could do wonders for your health and stamina, the daily grind could take a toll on your feet. For people used to these physical activities, the consequences may be startling. Sheryl Ubelacker of The Canadian Press relates the story of a woman who suddenly suffered foot pain, in an article for Prince George Citizen:

 

Connie Glen isn’t sure what she did exactly, but in February she started getting unexplained pain in her left heel — and seven months, several practitioners and about $2,000 later, it’s still not entirely healed, though she’s finally seeing some improvement.  Glen, whose exercise routine had ironically included yoga and pilates to help stretch and strengthen her muscles to prevent injury, had started taking twice-weekly barre classes that incorporate some of the “up-on-your-toes” exercises ballet dancers use to limber up.  “And I started getting this funny pain in my heel once in a while, but I didn’t relate it to the barre class,” says the 49-year-old from Oakville, Ont., who works as a quality manager for a major food company.

 

Connie Glen isn’t sure what she did exactly, but in February she started getting unexplained pain in her left heel — and seven months, several practitioners and about $2,000 later, it’s still not entirely healed, though she’s finally seeing some improvement.

Glen, whose exercise routine had ironically included yoga and pilates to help stretch and strengthen her muscles to prevent injury, had started taking twice-weekly barre classes that incorporate some of the “up-on-your-toes” exercises ballet dancers use to limber up.

“And I started getting this funny pain in my heel once in a while, but I didn’t relate it to the barre class,” says the 49-year-old from Oakville, Ont., who works as a quality manager for a major food company.

 

Glen has plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a thick tissue running along the foot’s bottom from the heel to the toe. Exercises usually cause this condition, bringing about excruciating pain for the person suffering it.

Plantar fasciitis, along with other movement-based injuries, may affect one in ten people whose regular activities require frequent foot movement. Massage specialists claim that people with tight Achilles tendons or shop for the wrong shoes may have episodes of plantar fasciitis.

Dealing with plantar fasciitis

If you find yourself suffering from plantar fasciitis, book an appointment with a rehab practice like the OMNI Health and Rehab Clinic and work out a solution, such as orthotics in Burlington, Ontario. Orthotics is the science of creating devices designed to restrict or aid movement.

Plantar fasciitis patients need to provide a comprehensive history of their condition to help a podiatrist form a solution. This usually requires a full biomechanical analysis. Initial solutions given by an interviewed podiatrist are stretching the legs, pulling the toes toward the nose, or rolling the arch of the sole over round objects like a cylinder or ball.

Chronic pain as a result of plantar fasciitis, however, may still be possible despite the abovementioned solutions. A reputable Burlington foot clinic can make a custom orthotic insole for the patient’s shoe based on a 3D model of the affected foot. Foot experts may require wearing a night splint as well, as long as the analysis supports that solution.

 


(Source: My foot: Plantar fasciitis stubborn to heal, experts say don’t put off treatment, The Prince George Citizen, 6 October 2014).

Dr. Anil Kaushal

Dr. Anil Kaushal

Chiropractor

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