Plantar fasciitis occurs when the tough fibrous band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed. The plantar fascia is a ligament that stretches from the base of the heel bone to the toes, and helps support the arch of the foot.

The plantar fascia acts like a spring on the bottom of the foot, and extends from the heel to the ball, creating the foot’s arch. It’s made to take a lot of stress since it supports the foot, but of course too much stress on it can lead to pain and inflammation.

Once the plantar fascia becomes strained, inflammation sets in (this is how the body attempts to heal itself) and pain and stiffness are often the result.

Common Symptoms

Most often, the pain of plantar fasciitis begins on the part of the heel closest to the toes, with the pain and stiffness often being the worst right when getting out of bed in the morning.

Pain can also extend into the foot arch and ball of the foot. The plantar fascia runs just below the skin of the foot and is easy to feel when it’s inflamed.

How It Gets Injured

One of the most common ways the plantar fascia becomes injured is by running. Also, people who stand and walk a lot at work may develop it as well; it can happen in one or both feet. The fascia is responsible for bearing a lot of our bodily weight.

Symptoms

• Heel pain
  
• Foot arch pain
  
• Stiffness and pain upon standing in the morning
  
• Pain goes away when the area is warmed up
  
• Pain in ball of foot
  
• Bottom of the foot can feel swollen when it’s very inflamed.

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

Healing Plantar Fasciitis takes a bit of time, rest and tissue-specific healing to occur. 

Rest is one of the key words here; you can use several modalities to heal it but if you continue to run/stress the tissue it never gets a rest and won’t be able to heal.

If you’ve got Plantar Fasciitis, that tissue needs rest. If you continue to stress it, it will never get a rest and healing will be prolonged. Be careful using it! - oftentimes PF will feel better/painless once it’s warmed up and you’re running/hiking etc. This will only make it worse! The time you spend resting now, won’t come close to the time you’ll miss if you keep running on it and it becomes chronic.

Therapies for PF:

Reduce Inflammation

In PF, the tissue is aggravated and inflamed. Slight inflammation is good, but too much, to the point of causing pain and tenderness, means it’s out of control. If it’s not treated, the tissue will become weakened over time.

• Inflammation Relief is a combination of systemic enzymes that break down pain-generating and inflammatory chemicals and improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to damaged tissues.
  
• Cell Rescue is a powerful combination of the strongest natural anti-inflammatories known. It won’t rot your gut or trash your liver like standard anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen do.

Tissue Rebuilding

• Ligament Restore contains all the nutrients your connective tissues (plantar fascia being one of them..) need to maintain strength and integrity.
  
• Protein intake is important when healing any injury. While it’s assumed many people get enough, it’s worth it to count your daily intake and keep it a bit higher while trying to heal. Current recommendations are that active individuals consume 0.5-0.9 grams per pound of body weight, on a daily basis

Other Factors

• Shoes: Worn out shoes, unsupportive shoes or poorly fitting shoes are all prime suspects in the development of foot injuries, especially plantar fasciitis. If you’re suffering from PF, time to take a good look at the shoes and probably change them up.
  
• Hydration is also key whenever you’re trying to heal an injury. Connective tissues (like the plantar fascia) have a poor blood supply. (This is what makes them more prone to injury.) Staying hydrated will help keep the tissue more flexible.
  
• Omega-3 fats are an important nutrient due to their powerful anti-inflammatory effects. This is one nutrient that we recommend all of our clients take, because of its widespread health benefits.
  
• T-Relief is a great topical pain-relieving cream for when your plantar fascia is really flared up, after stretching or walking.

Browse below and choose from our selection of natural supplements for plantar fasciitis (muscle cramping and spasms).