Plantar Fasciitis
Prevention
The following steps will help prevent plantar fasciitis or help keep the condition from getting worse if you already have it:
- Take care of your feet. Wear shoes with good arch support and heel cushioning. If your work requires you to stand on hard surfaces, stand on a thick rubber mat to reduce stress on your feet.
- Do exercises to stretch the Achilles tendon at the back of the heel. This is especially important before sports, but it is helpful for non-athletes as well. Ask your doctor about recommendations for a stretching routine.
- Stay at a reasonable weight for your height.
- Establish good exercise habits. Increase your exercise levels gradually, and wear supportive shoes.
- If you run, alternate running with other sports that will not cause heel pain.
- Put on supportive shoes as soon as you get out of bed. Going barefoot or wearing slippers puts stress on your feet.
If you feel that work activities caused your heel pain, ask your human resources department for information about different ways of doing your job that will not make your heel pain worse. If you are involved in sports, you may want to consult a sports training specialist for training and conditioning programs to prevent plantar fasciitis from recurring.
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| Author: | Douglas Dana Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH | Last Updated: September 18, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Barry L. Scurran, DPM - Podiatric Surgery Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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