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Plantar Fasciitis - Home Treatment
SYMPTOMS & TREATMENTS
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
The first steps your doctor will recommend to treat plantar fasciitis are ones you can take yourself. Different people find that one method or a combination of methods works best for them.
Try the following methods:
- Rest your feet. Stop or reduce any activities that may be causing your heel pain.
- Wear supportive footwear. Wear
shoes that have good arch support and heel cushioning. Or buy
shoe inserts (orthotics
). Shoe inserts may be made of
plastic, rubber, or felt. Orthotics can reduce stress and pulling on the
plantar fascia ligament . - Use ice on your heel. Ice can help reduce inflammation. Contrast baths, which alternate hot and cold water, can also be helpful. Heat alone may make symptoms worse. So always end a contrast bath with a soak in cold water.
- Take ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), naproxen (such as Aleve), aspirin, or another anti-inflammatory drug to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Wear night splints. Night splints gently stretch the plantar fascia ligament and Achilles tendon and keep them from getting tight during the night.
- Do stretching and strengthening exercises. Exercises for stretching the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia will increase their flexibility. Exercises to strengthen the muscles of the foot and ankle will help support the arch. For more information, see:
Often athletes develop foot problems because they train in shoes that are worn out or don't fit properly. Experts recommend getting new athletic shoes every 3 months or after 500 miles of wear.3 Other sensible training techniques, such as avoiding uneven or hard surfaces, can help prevent plantar fasciitis from occurring or returning.
If your weight is putting extra stress on your feet, your doctor may encourage you to try a weight-loss program.
To be successful at treating plantar fasciitis, you will need to:
- Be patient and consistent. The majority of cases of plantar fasciitis go away in time if you regularly stretch, wear good shoes, and rest your feet so they can heal.
- Start treatment right away. Don't just ignore the pain and hope it will go away. The longer you wait to begin treatment, the longer it will take for your feet to stop hurting.
The healing process takes time—from a few months to a year—but you should begin to have less pain within weeks of starting treatment. If you have not improved after trying these methods for 6 weeks, your doctor will suggest other treatments.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 22, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Barry L. Scurran, DPM - Podiatry and Podiatric Surgery | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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