heel pain

Since I think I know better than some of what was said I feel obligated to put some things right. I am not a doctor, nor have I taken any classes on this subject, but, plantar fasciitis is the result of "micro tears" in the plantar fascia. Typical of injuries, and also of normal wear and tear, inflammation plays a key role. Inflammation is supposed to do the healing but all too often inflammation gets out of control and becomes the "injury". In this respect, I am unsure of the exact role of inflammation in plantar fasciitis but it is definitely associated with the problem. If this problem were only inflammation, then I think it would be called arthritis. Anyway, the plantar fascia is the stretchable connective tissue between your heel (the "calcaneus" bone in your hindfoot) and your metatarsal region (the bones in your forefoot close to the ball). The plantar fascia is VERY narrow (the big problem) where it connects to the heel and wide where it connects to the forefoot. I believe the large majority of heel spurs (calcium buildups) ARE related to plantar fasciitis which often happens when the plantar fascia is torn at its narrow point, where it attaches to the heel. I believe, far and away, most plantar fasciitis results in heel pain. Note that the existing heel spurs are normally NOT the source of the heel pain, the plantar fascia is. Note also that there may be, or may not be, an area of tenderness to be found by poking the bottom of your feet with you fingers. Arch pain is a far less common occurrence than heel pain in plantar fasciitis and many times the heel pain can be partially relieved by applying pressure to the arch. Plantar fasciitis has many causes and overuse is a big one. Just being on your feet a lot is frequently all it takes, possibly because you are stressing your sole with insufficient recovery time. However, very many normally sedentary people, in addition to overweight people, are vulnerable and get it quite easily. Wearing improper shoes is another popular way to help bring it on. Obviously, you need to back off the stressful activities if you get plantar fasciitis. You also need to wear footwear ALL THE TIME, even on carpet - and even RIGHT UP TO THE DAMN POOL. You need to wear shoes that are comfortable and the more support the better. "Super Feet" (a popular brand of fairly rigid arch/heel supports) can be particularly useful for those people, unlike me, who have one and sometimes both feet that happen to curve the same way the Super Feet do. Devices like the Strassburg Sock can be worn at night to hold the foot in a level position (not plantar flexed as we usually sleep) so that the plantar fascia does not heal in its "shortened" state. For as much trouble as these devices may be, they are highly recommended. I must correct the use of dorsiflexed (and plantar flexed). Dorsa or dorsum (like on a fish) means "back." Plantar means bottom or sole (but not the fish). When your foot is plantar flexed (bent down - "toe pointing" was used), the plantar fascia is in it shortened state. When the foot is dorsiflexed (turned up towards your head), the plantar fascia is in its elongated or stretched state. Many people with plantar fasciitis feel extra pain in the morning when they first stand because their feet had been plantar flexed all night. I "stretched" the truth in my first post because I was trying to be brief (seriously) when I said the breaststroke kick involved stretching and snapping. The foot "snapping" (somewhat of an exaggeration too) of the kick is in going from a dorsiflexed position (the long or stretched) to the plantar flexed position (shortened plantar fascia). Nevertheless, the plantar fascia gets a good jar, many times. I am better than 90% sure that the breaststroke kick played the most significant role in my self-diagnosed plantar fasciitis and I am 99% sure that the breaststroke kick is the NUMBER ONE aggravator of my now sore plantar fascia. Fortunately, for my swimming turns, I always push softly off the walls. When I am getting ready for masters racing, I will learn to turn. In the meantime, I am doing what is most appropriate for the pools I swim in, and for my health and vision; and quintessentially, I get far more stroke counts in than all you fudgers. Who is the one getting cheated! (Also, the only previous foot problem I've ever had (and long had) was a badly hurting "instep" (top forefoot) so pushing off hard feels risky. This year I figured out the amazingly simple and effective cure to this problem: skip the middle shoelace eyelet on all my running shoes.) Anyway, I'm sure glad I haven't used fins either; I'll bet they can play nasty on a vulnerable fascia. Tim says that swimming, especially the breaststroke, helps his heel spurs on both feet. Maybe it's the spark in hormones you're getting from swimming Tim (which would have to be just as valuable as the weather)! Also, I've scraped the side of the pool a few times and lost a little calcium. Ok, enough being a smart aleck, there may be truth to it. Most things can be good to a point. Walking is good for your feet, maybe even walking a whole lot. Cycling is good for your knees, maybe even cycling a whole lot. Breaststroke can be good for your knees, and your feet, maybe even breaststroking a lot. Some of us are more vulnerable (and less able to recover) in some areas than others and other people. However different we are, we all toy with our limits (and typically they don't improve with age). Anyway Tim, I'll bet your heel spurs are not related to plantar fasciitis, despite that heels spurs usually are.

Since I think I know better than some of what was said I feel obligated to put some things right. I am not a doctor, nor have I taken any classes on this subject, but, plantar fasciitis is the result of "micro tears" in the plantar fascia. Typical of injuries, and also of normal wear and tear, inflammation plays a key role. Inflammation is supposed to do the healing but all too often inflammation gets out of control and becomes the "injury". In this respect, I am unsure of the exact role of inflammation in plantar fasciitis but it is definitely associated with the problem. If this problem were only inflammation, then I think it would be called arthritis. Anyway, the plantar fascia is the stretchable connective tissue between your heel (the "calcaneus" bone in your hindfoot) and your metatarsal region (the bones in your forefoot close to the ball). The plantar fascia is VERY narrow (the big problem) where it connects to the heel and wide where it connects to the forefoot. I believe the large majority of heel spurs (calcium buildups) ARE related to plantar fasciitis which often happens when the plantar fascia is torn at its narrow point, where it attaches to the heel. I believe, far and away, most plantar fasciitis results in heel pain. Note that the existing heel spurs are normally NOT the source of the heel pain, the plantar fascia is. Note also that there may be, or may not be, an area of tenderness to be found by poking the bottom of your feet with you fingers. Arch pain is a far less common occurrence than heel pain in plantar fasciitis and many times the heel pain can be partially relieved by applying pressure to the arch. Plantar fasciitis has many causes and overuse is a big one. Just being on your feet a lot is frequently all it takes, possibly because you are stressing your sole with insufficient recovery time. However, very many normally sedentary people, in addition to overweight people, are vulnerable and get it quite easily. Wearing improper shoes is another popular way to help bring it on. Obviously, you need to back off the stressful activities if you get plantar fasciitis. You also need to wear footwear ALL THE TIME, even on carpet - and even RIGHT UP TO THE DAMN POOL. You need to wear shoes that are comfortable and the more support the better. "Super Feet" (a popular brand of fairly rigid arch/heel supports) can be particularly useful for those people, unlike me, who have one and sometimes both feet that happen to curve the same way the Super Feet do. Devices like the Strassburg Sock can be worn at night to hold the foot in a level position (not plantar flexed as we usually sleep) so that the plantar fascia does not heal in its "shortened" state. For as much trouble as these devices may be, they are highly recommended. I must correct the use of dorsiflexed (and plantar flexed). Dorsa or dorsum (like on a fish) means "back." Plantar means bottom or sole (but not the fish). When your foot is plantar flexed (bent down - "toe pointing" was used), the plantar fascia is in it shortened state. When the foot is dorsiflexed (turned up towards your head), the plantar fascia is in its elongated or stretched state. Many people with plantar fasciitis feel extra pain in the morning when they first stand because their feet had been plantar flexed all night. I "stretched" the truth in my first post because I was trying to be brief (seriously) when I said the breaststroke kick involved stretching and snapping. The foot "snapping" (somewhat of an exaggeration too) of the kick is in going from a dorsiflexed position (the long or stretched) to the plantar flexed position (shortened plantar fascia). Nevertheless, the plantar fascia gets a good jar, many times. I am better than 90% sure that the breaststroke kick played the most significant role in my self-diagnosed plantar fasciitis and I am 99% sure that the breaststroke kick is the NUMBER ONE aggravator of my now sore plantar fascia. Fortunately, for my swimming turns, I always push softly off the walls. When I am getting ready for masters racing, I will learn to turn. In the meantime, I am doing what is most appropriate for the pools I swim in, and for my health and vision; and quintessentially, I get far more stroke counts in than all you fudgers. Who is the one getting cheated! (Also, the only previous foot problem I've ever had (and long had) was a badly hurting "instep" (top forefoot) so pushing off hard feels risky. This year I figured out the amazingly simple and effective cure to this problem: skip the middle shoelace eyelet on all my running shoes.) Anyway, I'm sure glad I haven't used fins either; I'll bet they can play nasty on a vulnerable fascia. Tim says that swimming, especially the breaststroke, helps his heel spurs on both feet. Maybe it's the spark in hormones you're getting from swimming Tim (which would have to be just as valuable as the weather)! Also, I've scraped the side of the pool a few times and lost a little calcium. Ok, enough being a smart aleck, there may be truth to it. Most things can be good to a point. Walking is good for your feet, maybe even walking a whole lot. Cycling is good for your knees, maybe even cycling a whole lot. Breaststroke can be good for your knees, and your feet, maybe even breaststroking a lot. Some of us are more vulnerable (and less able to recover) in some areas than others and other people. However different we are, we all toy with our limits (and typically they don't improve with age). Anyway Tim, I'll bet your heel spurs are not related to plantar fasciitis, despite that heels spurs usually are.