For many, the pain comes on slowly. You hobble around on a sore foot cursing yourself from collecting another bruised heel. However, unlike a bruised heel, the pain doesn’t go away. In fact, it gets worse. You try to play on it, you try to run through the pain, but eventually you just stop trying. That is the world of athletes that suffer from plantar fasciitis pain.
Although often called by a number of nicknames, plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of foot pain. But why did it have to happen to you? When you walk or run, the long arch in your foot acts something akin to a spring, rising and lowering with each step you take. What actually happens is that upon taking your body weight, the plantar fascia ligament that connects the heel to the toe will stretch to accommodate it. However, the ligament will never stop stretching, it will continue to stretch until it tears and becomes irritated. This is where your plantar fasciitis pain comes from.
A number of different lifestyle or athletic changes can bring this on, but primarily there are five different causes that are frequently responsible for plantar fasciitis pain.
-
Trauma to the Heel
Did you step off a curb wrong or make the very painful mistake of taking a jump shot on asphalt in your bare feet? Trauma to the foot is obviously the most common cause of plantar fasciitis as well as a number of other foot injuries. By pushing the mechanical limitations of the plantar fascia ligament during a traumatic incident and not letting it heal, plantar fasciitis will become a chronic pain in your foot.
-
Improper Stretching
Like other muscles and ligaments in your body, your foot will need to be properly stretched before each work out. Stretching remains one of the most important things you can do to protect your body from injury and soreness. Injury to the plantar fascia typically happens before exercise that involves a lot of running. Be sure to not bounce your stretch muscles beyond the point where you feel tightness. If you feel a burning sensation while stretching, then you are overstretching the area and pushing it for much longer will result in injury.
-
Flexible Shoes
Perhaps flexible shoes might not have been the initial cause of your pain, but they are making it worse. When athletes begin to experience foot pain, there is a strange misconception that they need to switch to a softer shoe when in fact nothing could be worse. Without proper support, this allows the ligaments in the foot to continue to stretch, bend, and tear. A stable shoe will actually work similar to a brace to prevent your foot pain from getting worse.
-
Running Uphill
Have you worked up to the maximum incline at the treadmill or recently decided to go walking up the insane hill of your city? Your legs may get toned, but your feet will pay the price. The position that the foot and ankle are put in when walking uphill causes an excessive range of motion for the joints and ligaments of the foot. This causes the connective tissue to become overstretched and tear.
-
Sudden Weight Gain
Plantar fasciitis isn’t just in the realm of athletes; it can be brought on by excessive weight gain, particularly when it comes on quickly. When the body puts on weight quickly, it does not allow the ligaments time to adjust to the new weight load. The connective tissue does not possess the adequate strength and flexibly to support the weight, so they begin to stretch and tear as they try to compensate.
PFTape® Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief System
Living with plantar fasciitis isn’t any fun, especially if you’re an active individual who needs to be able to get out the door and get in your workout. PFTape® Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief System provides great relief for painful Plantar Fasciitis symptoms. It helps relieve morning heel pain and provides therapeutic support on the foot. PFTape® is not basic athletic or kinesiology tape, it is more sturdy to give you the support you need.
To help relieve the pain of Plantar Fasciitis, Mueller® Sports Medicine created the PFTape®, which allows people with the condition to stay active. Now pro athletes, weekend warriors, and active people alike can benefit from the pain relief offered by PFTape. This tape is intended for immediate support during active hours, provides hours of durable support and is easy to self-apply. PFTape fits comfortably in any shoe and gives you a normal healthy range of motion unlike its competitors.
PFTape is made to handle an everyday active lifestyle without stretching, slipping, or losing its effectiveness. No other treatments come close to PFTape when it comes to results and value.
You can now find the Mueller Sports Medicine PFTape® Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief System at participating Walmart and Walgreens locations
