Heal my heel.? I am a 5' 4" female runner weighing around 125 pounds. I run anywhere between 20 and 40 miles weekly. I have an adidas Supernova cushion, yet I've still been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis plantar fasciitis n. Inflammation of the fascia on the plantar surface of the foot, usually at the attachment to the heel, often making it painful to walk. . The pain is in my left heel, and typically starts after running 15 miles. It stops when I stop running. What will correctly rehabilitate this? Can I run and allow it to heal? Any thoughts on its cause? Andrea Milbourne, Manvel, TX This very common condition, which involves an inflamed or overstretched o·ver·stretch v. o·ver·stretched, o·ver·stretch·ing, o·ver·stretch·es v.tr. 1. To stretch excessively; overstrain. 2. To stretch or extend over. v.intr. ligament running along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the base of the toes, requires that you stop running before the symptoms begin. This will prevent the injury from progressing. I therefore recommend that you decrease your mileage. Since the symptoms only start after you're well into your long runs, going shorter distances will allow you to continue to run. Note also that your shoes are made to lessen shock; you might try shoes that control motion. And orthotics orthotics /or·thot·ics/ (-iks) the field of knowledge relating to orthoses and their use. or·thot·ics n. help control pronation pronation /pro·na·tion/ (-na´shun) the act of assuming the prone position, or the state of being prone. Applied to the hand, the act of turning the palm backward (posteriorly) or downward, performed by medial rotation of the forearm. , which pulls on the plantar fascia. I would check with your local podiatrist Podiatrist A physician who specializes in the medical care and treatment of the human foot. Mentioned in: Shin Splints podiatrist to determine whether orthotics may help. Don't forget to stretch your Achilles tendon both before and after workouts. And don't be surprised if the reduced mileage and motion control shoes still take six weeks to alleviate the problem. Gene S. Mirkin, DPM (Documents Per Minute) The number of paper documents that can be processed in one minute. , Kensington, MD Please note that Clinic responses frequently appear as excerpts of longer answers, especially when the inclusion of two full answers would result in redundant information. 
Gene Mirkin, DPM (Member): 8/8/2009 10:06 PM
Note also that your shoes are things you wear on your feet and are made to lessen shock of many things, including what you see on TV; you might try shoes that control motion, especially if worn on the feet. And orthotics help control pronation which pulls on the plantar fascia, the same way I pull on my fascia every night. I would check with your local podiatrist to determine whether orthotics may help, and you can always get them through my office if your local podiatrist is not too smart. Don't forget to stretch your Achilles tendon both before and after workouts, dressing, entertaining, walking, driving, eating, and drawing. And don't be surprised if the reduced mileage seen on your auto and motion control, or control of motion, shoes still take sixteen weeks to alleviate the problem, although there is no literature to support this information whatsoever. |
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