One Foot in Front of the Other: A Podiatry Collection

4 Natural Ways To Treat Your Plantar Fasciitis

2 June 2020 by Elijah Turner

Plantar fasciitis can be painful to deal with. It can cause a stabbing pain in your heel, which can be painful in the morning. This pain can return throughout the day as well. Luckily, for most people, plantar fasciitis can be treated naturally.

Natural Way #1: Cold Therapy

One of the best ways to deal with the daily pain is to put an ice pack on your heel for about twenty minutes. Don't apply the ice directly to your skin; you should always wrap the icepack up in cloth first.

You can ice your heel up to four times a day. This will help reduce inflammation and pain.

Natural Way #2: Change Your Footwear

You may need to change the footwear that you are wearing in order to help combat your pain and give your foot a chance to heal from the inflammation behind your pain. You are going to want to wear shoes that have both a low heel and good arch support.

If you don't have the money to invest in new shoes or you like the appearance of the shoes you already own, you can invest in orthotics. Orthotics are inserts you put into your shoe that help distribute your weight more evenly across your foot, thus helping to reduce the strain and pain on your heel.

You can purchase orthotics at most pharmacies. You will find a variety of styles and sizes based on your foot size and shape. You can also work with a podiatrist to have custom orthotics created that are specifically designed to support your foot.

Natural Way #3: Wear a Splint at Night

Another option is to wear a splint on the impacted foot and leg at night. A night splint will help stretch out both your calves and your arches overnight, both of which tend to tense up when you are experiencing plantar fasciitis and both of which can contribute to the level of pain you are feeling.

Night splints are designed to be worn for a couple of months until the pain subsides and doesn't return.

Natural Way #4: Stretch Out More

You may also want to try stretching out when you are awake more. Stretch out both your calf and your foot muscles on a regular basis. Stretching the tight muscles that are contributing to your pain can help loosen them up.

Finally, schedule an appointment with your local podiatrist. They will work with you to create a treatment plan to ease your pain and will help you get the help you need to treat your foot condition. They can help fit you with custom orthotics, determine if a night splint is the right choice for your condition, and teach you stretches to use to ease your pain.

To learn more, contact a foot specialist.

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