Plantar fasciitis: Exercises to relieve pain
How to do exercises for plantar fasciitis
Before you start these exercises:
- If you are participating in sports, it is very important to warm up and do stretching exercises before your sport. Warming up and stretching will make your plantar fascia more flexible and may decrease the chance of injury and inflammation.
- You may want to take a pain reliever such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), including aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium, to relieve inflammation and pain. Some people take NSAIDs at least 30 minutes before they exercise to relieve pain and allow them to participate and enjoy the exercise. Other people take NSAIDs after they exercise.
- After exercising, ice your heel to help relieve pain and inflammation.
Stretching exercises before getting out of bed
Many people with plantar fasciitis have intense heel pain in the morning, when taking the first steps after getting out of bed. This pain comes from the tightening of the plantar fascia that occurs during sleep. Stretching or massaging the plantar fascia before standing up can often reduce heel pain.
- Stretch your foot by flexing it up and down 10 times before standing.
- Use a towel to stretch the bottom of your foot (towel stretch
).
Other steps can help reduce heel pain when you take your first steps after getting out of bed. You can:
- Wear a night splint while you sleep. Night splints hold the ankle and foot in a position that keeps the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia slightly stretched.
- Massage the bottom of your foot across the width of the plantar fascia before getting out of bed.
- Always wear shoes when you get out of bed, even if it is just to go to the bathroom. Quality sandals, athletic shoes, or any other comfortable shoes with good arch supports will work.
Exercises to do each day
Stretching and strengthening exercises will help reduce plantar fasciitis.
- Stretching exercises should create a pulling feeling—they should not cause pain. It's best to do each exercise two or three times during the day, but you do not need to do them all at once.1 Stretching exercises:
- Use a rolling pin or tennis ball. While seated, roll the rolling pin or ball with the arch of your foot. If you are able to, progress to doing this exercise while you are standing up.
- Towel stretch
- Calf stretch
- Plantar fascia and calf stretch
- Strengthening exercises:
There are other exercises you can use to stretch and strengthen your foot and leg. Ask your physical therapist or doctor which exercises will work best for you.
Test Your Knowledge
Doing stretching exercises in bed before getting up in the morning can reduce or relieve heel pain that often occurs during the first steps after rising.
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| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH | Last Updated: July 23, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Barry L. Scurran, DPM - Podiatric Surgery | |
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