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Running And Plantar Fasciitis: Shoes, Runners And Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

The most common form of heel pain is caused by a condition called Plantar Fasciitis. This occurs when a tissue called plantar fascia gets inflamed. This is a connective tissue which runs along the bottom of the foot. When this ligament is stretched irregularly, small tears develop and this is responsible for the inflammation. Plantar fasciitis causes pain on the bottom of the heel. This condition comes on gradually. The pain may come on when getting out of bed or when taking a few steps after you have been sitting for a long time. The pain is most severe at this time as inactivity has allowed the plantar fasciitis to shorten. The pain can be either dull, aching or sharp and can be felt if you flex your toes upwards and stretch the plantar fascia. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, you will feel the pain on the inside of your heel. If you have been running and plantar fasciitis has started to bother you then it is possible that it was aggravated by running on hard surfaces or by excessive running or by running on the balls of your feet. The inflammation and heel pain will get worse if the plantar fascia is not rested. Repeated walking, jogging, standing and other such activities will only help to increase the pain. In many cases, the ligament does not heal as the activity that has caused the problem does not stop. Wearing non supportive footwear and obesity are two other causes of plantar fasciitis. The pain usually subsides as you walk but can return after the activities listed above. It is common for athletes, in particular runners, to suffer from plantar fasciitis.

The pain usually occurs after running but some people experience pain during running too Runners may also suffer from this if they have been wearing the wrong type of shoe or excessively worn shoes.  Most runners continue to run despite the initial pain but it is better to seek help and rest the plantar fascia if you wish to relieve yourself of the pain. Depending on the severity of the condition, a runner may need to stop running for a while or limit running till the ligament heals. There are several ways of treating this condition. Massage the arch to loosen the tissue or simply do an ice massage. Check with your doctor about taking painkillers to ease the pain. Plantar fasciitis can be a frustrating injury for runners. This condition heals very slowly and there is a possibility of reoccurrence too.

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