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Many of the activities we perform every day would be impossible if we could not walk and we often forget that feet are the part of the body that supports our whole weight. Nowadays, people tend to take them for granted and make mistakes that lead to heel pain: wearing improper footwear, standing for many consecutive hours or neglecting visits to their podiatrist. This unfortunately leads to negative consequences, conditions such as heel spurs and plantar fasciitis, which start by making our live uncomfortable and, if left untreated, can turn every day tasks into exhausting strains. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the ligament connecting the heel to the toes (plantar fascia) becomes inflamed. This occurs mostly after the age of 40, because that is when the body begins to show signs of weakness, but young people have been known to suffer from it. This condition happens as a result of standing on your feet or run for too long, but you don't have to be a marathon runner to have it. Obesity and wearing uncomfortable shoes are also what causes it. Symptoms include sharp heel pain when you get out of bed in the morning or when you stand up after sitting down for a long time. In order to treat it, the first thing you must do is avoid effort and relax your feet for a while. You can also apply ice on the painful area and do some simple toe exercises, but if the pain persists you must go to a doctor who can make an x-ray and provide effective advise and medication. More than half the patients who have suffered from plantar fasciitis in their lives are prone to developing heel spurs, which are an unnatural growth formed because of the calcium deposited in the heel. These spurts do not cause pain and have a high incidence among people who are overweight, have flat feet or high arches. Their treatment also includes rest, ice packs and stretching exercises. Massage is very effective as well. It takes time for the symptoms to disappear and going to a specialized doctor is still the most recommended option because an x-ray will provide conclusive results. The good news is that most cases (90%) do not require surgical intervention. Apart from heel spurs, there are also other foot issues that can affect our lives, such as: Achilles Tendonitis, toenail fungus, heel fissures, bunions and the list can go on with dozens of conditions. What is worrying is that many people tend to underestimate heel pain and think of it as a transient problem that does not have any major consequences. There is nothing more wrong, however, because even if foot pain might go away, as years pass it will come back. Moreover, many severe disease start with an apparently harmless ache at the base of the heel and, when left untreated, they can even endanger our ability to walk. In this context, we must underline the importance of consulting an orthopedist whenever you experience discomfort. For more resources about heel spurs or about plantar fasciitis, please review this link http://www.kelsherkin.com.
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