Plantar faschiatis & walking - Page 2

Jane P. · 10-29-12, 10:38 AM

All of the above advice is good, but I think, in your case, you should probably not be walking on your foot for a while. You are irritating it, and slowing the healing process. I would concentrate on your abs and upper body for now if you don't have access to a cycle or elliptical.

Yesterday, I helped a friend move some furniture. Guess what, my PF flared up a bit. I guess you never know what will irritate it.

Whimzee · 10-29-12, 11:12 AM

I had Plantar faschiatis too really bad about a year ago. And as Jane said, you never know when it'll flair up again. Thank goodness I found gel heel cups that I wear all the time now. Walmart carries them in their pharmacy section in addition to their shoe department. They're blue, made by SofComfort and only costs around $5. I find that as long as I cushion my heel, it keeps the PF at bay.

Oh - they do tend to slip sideways in your shoes but I've solved this problem by super gluing them inside! Hope you feel better soon -

BunnyHop · 10-29-12, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdw

via downdog.
...

Do you mean downward facing dog? That one puts too much strain on my wrists, so I do other things.

It's still true that for me, making sure to stretch feet/ankles/calves/hamstrings has been key. Focusing on just the feet/ankles wasn't enough.

Dabbadooey · 10-29-12, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BunnyHop

Do you mean downward facing dog? That one puts too much strain on my wrists, so I do other things.

It's still true that for me, making sure to stretch feet/ankles/calves/hamstrings has been key. Focusing on just the feet/ankles wasn't enough.

You can do dolphin instead of down dog. The only thing that helped my PF was time. Stretching and icing didn't really have that great of an effect.

athompson10 · 10-29-12, 06:21 PM

My PF was most helped by stretching and shoes. When mine first occured back in 2004? 2005?, I switched to shoes with good arch support and cushioning and the pain went away. I had a flareup within the last two weeks that was extremely painful when I was barefoot (in the shower, at my Pilates class) but almost disappeared when I put on my Sanita clogs.

faith458 · 10-30-12, 11:35 AM

I switched to shoes with arch support too. I stretch when I need it. The shoes were a big help along with the stretches and PT.
Faith

Dabbadooey · 10-30-12, 01:51 PM

I forgot to mention that chaco sports sandals were a huge help!

beyond.omega · 10-31-12, 10:53 PM

I had the beginnings of plantar fascitis early this year. I had been wearing barefoot shoes for about a year, and one week I did extra exercise walking with less break and less stretching and the PF to myself.

I had started seeing a PT for my back, and when I mentioned the foot pain, they wanted me to stop wearing the barefoot shoes. I told them that the shoes had done so much for my back that I was very reluctant to do so. So, the pushed me to do my stretches, gave me another one and also, gave me detailed coaching on my posture. Oddly enough, the conscious posture change seemed to make the biggest difference, although it took maybe a month from that time. The pain is gone now.

PS. I did backed off slightly on my exercise walking (started having more 7K and 10K step days instead of consistent 12K steps days.) I am also careful to do my stretching now too and take two rest days instead of just 1 (or zero which is what got me in trouble to begin with.)

zippity · 11-01-12, 07:58 AM

Wow, a lot of us have PF.

I had it for about six months; the only thing that made it better was to switch from impact to yoga, and to always wear sneakers/supportive shoes, even in the house. No barefoot, except in yoga class. Ice, tape, inserts, motrin, helped, but didn't make the problem go away.

michl43 · 11-01-12, 08:11 AM

I now found what is working for me. Lots of gentle stretches and massage with small ball and tennis elbow roller, taping my arch, and wearing Keen Whisper sandals. I started with the taping and Keen Whisper just yesterday, and my foot actually felt pain free all day. I'm going to continue this routine permanently till it fully heals and after to prevent reoccurrence. Duct tape works great.

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10-29-12, 10:38 AM
Jane P. VF Supporter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Colorado Springs	All of the above advice is good, but I think, in your case, you should probably not be walking on your foot for a while. You are irritating it, and slowing the healing process. I would concentrate on your abs and upper body for now if you don't have access to a cycle or elliptical. Yesterday, I helped a friend move some furniture. Guess what, my PF flared up a bit. I guess you never know what will irritate it. __________________ "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." Leo Tolstoy

10-29-12, 11:12 AM
Whimzee Join Date: May 2009	I had Plantar faschiatis too really bad about a year ago. And as Jane said, you never know when it'll flair up again. Thank goodness I found gel heel cups that I wear all the time now. Walmart carries them in their pharmacy section in addition to their shoe department. They're blue, made by SofComfort and only costs around $5. I find that as long as I cushion my heel, it keeps the PF at bay. Oh - they do tend to slip sideways in your shoes but I've solved this problem by super gluing them inside! Hope you feel better soon -

10-29-12, 06:21 PM
athompson10 VF Supporter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY	My PF was most helped by stretching and shoes. When mine first occured back in 2004? 2005?, I switched to shoes with good arch support and cushioning and the pain went away. I had a flareup within the last two weeks that was extremely painful when I was barefoot (in the shower, at my Pilates class) but almost disappeared when I put on my Sanita clogs. __________________ Allison

10-30-12, 11:35 AM
faith458 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Connecticut	I switched to shoes with arch support too. I stretch when I need it. The shoes were a big help along with the stretches and PT. Faith

10-30-12, 01:51 PM
Dabbadooey Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SC	I forgot to mention that chaco sports sandals were a huge help!

10-31-12, 10:53 PM
beyond.omega VF Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006	I had the beginnings of plantar fascitis early this year. I had been wearing barefoot shoes for about a year, and one week I did extra exercise walking with less break and less stretching and the PF to myself. I had started seeing a PT for my back, and when I mentioned the foot pain, they wanted me to stop wearing the barefoot shoes. I told them that the shoes had done so much for my back that I was very reluctant to do so. So, the pushed me to do my stretches, gave me another one and also, gave me detailed coaching on my posture. Oddly enough, the conscious posture change seemed to make the biggest difference, although it took maybe a month from that time. The pain is gone now. PS. I did backed off slightly on my exercise walking (started having more 7K and 10K step days instead of consistent 12K steps days.) I am also careful to do my stretching now too and take two rest days instead of just 1 (or zero which is what got me in trouble to begin with.)

11-01-12, 07:58 AM
zippity Join Date: Feb 2011	Wow, a lot of us have PF. I had it for about six months; the only thing that made it better was to switch from impact to yoga, and to always wear sneakers/supportive shoes, even in the house. No barefoot, except in yoga class. Ice, tape, inserts, motrin, helped, but didn't make the problem go away. __________________ STS Grad 2X

11-01-12, 08:11 AM
michl43 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego	I now found what is working for me. Lots of gentle stretches and massage with small ball and tennis elbow roller, taping my arch, and wearing Keen Whisper sandals. I started with the taping and Keen Whisper just yesterday, and my foot actually felt pain free all day. I'm going to continue this routine permanently till it fully heals and after to prevent reoccurrence. Duct tape works great.