Stretching
Do you ever wake up in the morning and feel a sharp pain in your heel? If so, you may suffer from plantar fasciitis, which affects millions of people. Stretching the muscles and tendons in your feet and lower legs can help relieve the inflammation and pain associated with plantar fasciitis. Different types of stretching can treat plantar fasciitis symptoms, like the towel stretch. First, place a towel around the ball of your foot. Then pull back on both ends of the towel until you feel a stretch in your arch. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds and repeat 3 to 5 times.
Another effective stretch is the calf stretch. It helps to lengthen the calf muscle, which in turn takes the pressure off the plantar fascia. To perform this stretch, stand with your hands against a wall and place one leg behind the other, keeping both feet flat on the ground. Next, lean into the wall until you feel a stretch in the calf muscle. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3-5 times on each leg. As always, check with a medical professional before starting any new exercises or treatment regimen for plantar fasciitis.
