Do you have foot pain?

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, a part of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes.  Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain around the heel and arch of your foot.  The pain my come on gradually and start as a soreness and move through to aches.  It may be worse in the morning, the first few steps when getting out of bed may be very painful or the first few steps if you have been sitting for a while.
You may usually help plantar fasciitis with things like rest, ice packs and comfortable shoes.   From personal experience I found that using a small round plastic water bottle three quarter fill with water, put in the freezer until it was frozen and when your plantar fascia flares up simply wrap the bottle in a tea towel and roll your feet over it.  Trust me its heavenly.
You’re more likely to get plantar fasciitis from
  • weight bearing sports with vigorous take offs and landings and fast turns
  • exercising on hard surfaces
  • wearing shoes with poor support  or wearing high heels too much
  • being very overweight
  • excessive foot eversion*
Massage may help with plantar fasciitis by releasing some of the tension in the plantar fascia.
* Eversion is the tilting of the sole of your foot outwards, away from the midline of the body during movement.

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