Plantar fasciitis. A term used by physicians and other medical professionals to describe the inflammation or irritation of the plantar fascia (a thick tissue that goes from the heel to the toes and supports the arch of your foot– see picture below). Often times this inflammation or irritation can be best described as pain on the heel and/or bottom of ones foot. While it is quite common, the cause of plantar fasciitis can widely vary between individuals. Some potential risk factors include (but are not limited too): high arches or flat feet, pronated feet, running, walking, or standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time, being overweight, worn out or poor fitting shoes, and tight calf muscles.
Because the onset of plantar fasciitis varies so much, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution, leaving room for creativity and individualization. For example, what works for Mr. Jones’ plantar fasciitis may in fact irritate Mrs. Brown’s plantar fasciitis more! Thus, it is about trying new ‘ingredients’, perhaps mixing a few together, and creating your own unique ‘recipe’ for pain relief.
For those who currently have irritated of inflamed plantar fascia or know of someone who does, we have put together a list of our Top 10 Tools We Offer For Plantar Fasciitis Relief. This can be a great starting tool for someone who has been living with this pain looking to find relief or a good resource for anyone who currently is trying a couple things but not finding them helpful. Know that our trained staff are here to answer any questions and direct you in the right direction that not only meets your lifestyle but also relieves your pain.
Top 10 Tools We Carry For Plantar Fasciitis
*In no particular order*
- A pair of over the counter insoles or custom foot orthotics – How it works: Insoles work to relieve pain in the foot by properly supporting the arch and heel of the foot to help spread and absorb shock as well as ease pressure on your heel.
- A Spiky Ball – How it works: Great for digging into the tissue on the bottom or the foot to relieve some built up tension or as a myofascial release in the calf muscle.
- Sockwell Plantar Ease Quarter Socks – How it works: This compression sock works by firmly supporting the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon in addition to applying pressure to encourage blood flow upwards to reduce swelling and minimize pain and discomfort.
- Addaday Peanut – How it works: Another wonderful myofascial release tool for rolling along the back of the calf muscle and along the bottom of the foot.
- Elements Stretch UP – How it works: This sock works by keeping your foot in a slightly flexed position throughout the night to help gently stretch out the tissue. This can definitely help make those first few steps in the morning less painful.
- Myofascial Ball – How it works: Using a small golf ball can help get deep into the tissue of the foot to break up those tension spots.
- OrthoSleeve FS6 – How it works: This toeless foot sleeve provides all day compression to help reduce swelling and improve one’s circulation in order to relieve foot pain.
- Night Splint – How it works: The night splint works by providing an adjustable, overnight stretch to the plantar fascia.
- Addaday Junior Roller – How it works: Another one of our favorite tools to help release tight fascia along the bottom of the foot. The best part about this one is it will stay in one spot as you roll your foot along the top.
- K-Laser Therapy – How it works: Class IV K-Laser therapy can be used to help promote tissue repair and growth. It is a pain-free, surgery-free option that can aid in accelerating the healing process by decreasing inflammation and providing pain relief.
