Vancouver Massage Therapist Discusses Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - May 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Are you finding that your feet and heels are constantly sore? Does it prevent you from exercising?  You may have a condition called Plantar Fasciitis. Plantar Fasciitis happens when the fascia in the sole of your foot becomes inflamed. The inflammation begins because of repeated stress and tearing of the fascia which results in pain that focuses on around the heel of your foot. The pain arising from the inflammation prevents most people from running and maybe even walking, depending on the severity. Plantar Fasciitis usually occurs after activity, and the more you try to push through the pain to continue the activity, the worse the inflammation will become. It is most typically seen in athletes where running constitutes a large part of their training; however, massage therapists see many patients with this condition who are not athletes.

Michael Scottnicki, Vancouver RMT at Broadway Wellness shares his story with Plantar Fasciitis. “I myself have battled with this condition for years and I am far from being what most people consider an elite athlete to be. I have also found that this condition sometimes goes hand in hand with fallen arches in your feet. With this condition you will find that it comes and goes. You will have periods of time where the pain prevents you from doing anything and when the inflammation goes away you are good for a while. At least, until the next time you run or do something else that irritates the plantar fascia, and then your back to square one. This can be very frustrating and debilitating.”

http://www.broadwaymassageandtherapy.com/our-therapists/michael-scottnicki-rmt

So how do we treat and prevent Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is typically treated using a massage therapy technique called myofascial release- targeted, of course, on the sole of the foot. Massage therapists combine this technique with work on other associated muscles that contribute to structure and movement with the foot. Prolonged and focused stretching also works well to relieve discomfort from Plantar Fasciitis.

Controlling the inflammation is the most important goal once symptoms start to occur. You can reduce inflammation using anti-inflammatories or, better yet, through hydrotherapy (ice application to the sole of the foot). By minimizing the severity of the inflammation, you are in turn minimizing the severity of the condition and how long it will last for.  Generally, orthotics are recommended, and while this can help with the pain, it doesn’t help to correct the cause of the problem. Many find that strengthening the foot was the most important thing for relief from Plantar Fasciitis. If you can strengthen your foot and improve its structure, the stress on the fascia should diminish. Included in that strengthening- a proper warm up of your foot is also very important to do before activities, this will make the fascia mobile and will help prevent tearing.

If you suffer from Plantar Fasciitis you know how crippling it truly can be. Seek out the help of a registered massage therapist to assess the condition and make sure you’re on the path to healing.

http://www.broadwaymassageandtherapy.com