If you’ve ever had plantar fasciitis, then you’ll know how painful it can be. There are a number of ways to try to manage the pain and speed up the healing process, and massage can be one of them. Read on to find out more about plantar fasciitis and how to treat it.
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that affects the plantar fascia, which is the ligaments that connect your heel bone to your toes. It is caused by inflammation of this tissue, leading to pain in the heel and arch of your foot. This can affect one or both feet and can feel like a sharp pain or a dull ache.
Pain from plantar fasciitis typically fades while the patient is active, but flares up again after high levels of activity. It is also worse when you first stand up after sitting down for a while or when getting out of bed in the morning.
What causes it?
The main cause of plantar fasciitis is excessive pressure on the ligaments in your feet. So, anyone who is extremely active is more likely to suffer from this condition. This means that runners and athletes commonly develop plantar fasciitis, as well as anyone in a profession where they are on their feet all day.
Excess weight also increases the pressure on your feet, making plantar fasciitis more likely. As a result, pregnant women and anyone who is overweight or obese are more likely to experience this pain.
Some people may be more prone to plantar fasciitis due to structural differences in their feet, such as tight Achilles tendons or flat feet. Additionally, wearing shoes that are ill-fitting or have poor arch support over long periods of time makes this condition more likely to develop.
Treating plantar fasciitis with massage
Plantar fasciitis can be treated and managed primarily through rest and anti-inflammatory medication. You can also help to speed up the recovery process by icing your foot and performing foot stretches and exercises to loosen and strengthen the ligaments.
Massage can also help to stretch the ligaments and improve their flexibility while also increasing blood flow to the area, which promotes healing. But it’s not just the sole of the feet you need to focus on, the muscles running down the back of your lower leg and ankle also connect to the heel. If these areas are tight, then this will place more strain on the plantar fasciitis.
There are some self-massage techniques you can try yourself, but for a more effective treatment, book a professional massage to help loosen all the muscles and ligaments that could be causing your pain. Contact Moonstone Massage for professional massage treatment in Winston Salem, NC.