Stretching to relieve pain
Thursday, May 27th, 2010What in the world are we talking about? Are you asking yourself, ‘how in the world can stretching alleviate my heel pain?’ Well, that’s why you are going to read today’s blog.
You may be tired of hearing how stretching has many health benefits, but when it comes to pain in your feet the results can be easily seen. Often the heel pain your experience in the morning is due to tightness of the tissue the spans the arch of your foot, the plantar fascia. Simple stretches including rolling a tennis ball under your foot, pulling your foot towards you (by looping a town around it) while seated with your legs out, or standing with the ball of your feet on a book with your heel on the ground all can do a lot to limit pain in your feet. The classic ‘runner’s stretch’ against a wall or any other stretch that targets your calves can also help. There are also some products that allow you ice & stretch simultaneously. Perform these stretches before you start your day and before you go to sleep for best results.
While the causes of heel pain can involve many factors, stretching is something you can try before seeking podiatric care. Other things you can do include making sure your shoes have proper arch support or losing weight, both which help to avoid putting undue stress on your plantar fascia. These helpful hints should not be a substitute for a good medical evaluation. If this pain persists more than a few weeks, we here at AFAS want to encourage you to seek the help of Dr. Thomajan. Don’t let foot pain interfere with your daily life, make an appointment today. Until next time keep healthy Austin!