It may start off hardly and you don’t notice that your running pace has slowed. Pain starts to creep in yet you keep pushing because during your whole life as an athlete, it’s what you’ve always done. Whether you play tennis or you run daily, your feet are what keep you moving—they are what keep you playing.
How do you avoid having to leave the tennis court or kiss your running shoes goodbye? The following are some of the symptoms of plantar fasciitis so you can recognize when you have it:
- A very strong pain in the sole of your heel can be a telltale sign of plantar fasciitis. The pain is typically quite strong and hard to ignore, and often described as a strong, stabbing pain.
- You will usually feel pain stronger in the morning, so if you’re a runner who goes running during the early hours of your day, you may have noticed how much more it hurts than when you run later on.
- Sometimes it causes stiffness in your foot, to the point that you limp when you walk.
- If your job or lifestyle has you standing for a long time during your day, you may find that it becomes quite painful.
- Those who are active may often feel more pain than those who don’t play sports or aren’t as active.
- If you don’t feel a lot of pain in your heel while you’re running, but you do afterwards, it could be a big sign that you have plantar fasciitis.
What To Do About It?
If the above symptoms sound like you have plantar fasciitis, you may be looking for solutions to your problem. You want to keep up with your tennis game or your favorite exercise and plantar fasciitis shouldn’t keep you down. The following treatments are some way that people take care of their plantar fasciitis:
- You can consider physical therapy. Physical therapy can help you to learn exercises that help to stabilize your ankle and heel area, while stretching your plantar fascia, etc.
- If you visit a doctor to find a solution, you may find that they suggest that you wear a night splint. This helps to take the work out of having to stretch yourself. The splint will hold it in a stretched position during the night—just be aware that it may not be that comfortable to sleep in.
- You may want to use arch supports in your shoes. This will help to make sure that you aren’t just putting pressure on your heel.
- Sometimes a doctor will suggest surgery if the case is serious. The good news is that it’s not a very invasive surgery and doesn’t require you to go under. It’s also a surgery that is relatively easy to recover from.
Your doctor will most likely be able to tell you what you need to do to feel better. Whether they suggest surgery or some physical therapy, you won’t have to live with the pain for the rest of your life—as long as you get checked and get it treated.
Changing Your Shoes
In mild cases, simply changing the shoes that you wear can make a difference in your pain level. While not necessarily a long-term solution, adjusting the shoes that you wear can definitely make it possible for you to keep on enjoying your favorite sport or game.
While you can look for a good running shoe or a pair tennis shoes with heel support, it’s always best to look for shoes that have been designed for those with plantar fasciitis.
While they aren’t always the most stylish shoes, they do a lot to minimize pain from plantar fasciitis and make it possible for you to keep up with your game. For example, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 18 has been designed with high arches, so you can relieve the pressure put on your heel and minimize the pain you may be feeling while doing your preferred activity.
What to Look For In Your Shoes
If you do go for the shoe option as a solution to your plantar fasciitis issues, you’ll need to make sure to find a shoe that has certain features. For example, you’ll want to make sure that the pair has great arch support.
Secondly, you’ll need to ensure that the heel support provide is ideal. Because of the pain in your heel, you don’t want to wear shoes without any. Shoes that lack in heel support will be painful and possibly worsen your problem.
Soft cushioning in your shoe can help to make it more comfortable to run on pavement or play on a hard tennis court. Plantar fasciitis pain can be emphasized if you’re wearing shoes without enough cushioning. The impact can make it almost unbearable to keep up with your activity.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve realized that you definitely have plantar fasciitis, you also know that you need to do something about it. The good news is that there are a variety of solutions to plantar fasciitis. Some of them are temporary and others are long-term treatments.
The important thing is that you’re able to minimize the pain or eliminate it all together and keep up with your favorite sport or activity. Whether you love running or enjoy playing tennis or basketball, plantar fasciitis shouldn’t keep you from staying active.
