If you’ve ever had plantar fasciitis, you know how miserable it can be, particularly if you’re active and love a wide variety of activities. Plantar fasciitis can put you down for a while, keeping you off your feet and away from physical exercise--and that in and of itself is frustrating. It’s not surprising that it is one of the most common orthopedic complaints and impacts one in ten people each year.
The pain that accompanies plantar fasciitis usually affects the bottom of the heel but can extend along the arch of the foot and the back of the calf. It can vary from a dull burning and ache to shooting pains. Caused by wear and tear of living an active life, it is believed that plantar fasciitis is the result of chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia.
Plantar fascia is the ropey interwoven ligament that attaches your heel to the front of your foot. It provides your arch with support, allows you to walk and run and serves as a shock absorber as you do so.
Frequently, pain is worse in the morning when the plantar fascia is tight. As we get older, the chances of experiencing plantar fasciitis increase. It’s most common among active individuals 40-70 years old, and statistically more women than men are affected. Overweight? This puts additional pressure on your feet and increases your chances of experiencing plantar fasciitis.
Because plantar fascia issues are influenced by wear and tear, overdoing a sport, such as running, may increase your risk. The same goes for standing on your feet for multiple hours, as some professions require. If you have structural foot issues, such as flat feet or even a high arch, you’re at additional risk for plantar fasciitis, particularly if you are not wearing proper footwear. Shoes designed to prevent plantar fasciitis provide arch and heel support and cushioning geared to reduce pressure on the plantar fascia.
Treatment, unfortunately, is lengthy and involves many modalities. Traditional medicine may provide corticosteroids for inflammation, NSAIDS such as Advil for pain, localized cortisone injections and even surgery.
Natural remedies involve stretching, wearing corrective gear (shoes, night brace, arch support shoe inserts), massage, essential oils, ice, rest and supplementation.
While you are on the mend from plantar fasciitis, it is important to change up your exercise routine and avoid the activity that caused the injury. Usually, this means taking a break from running. Giving the body time to heal can involve transitioning to other forms of low-impact exercise such as yoga, swimming or rowing.
Icing the injury up to four times a day for twenty minute intervals while resting the foot can also speed healing and reduce pain and inflammation.
Night splints worn about 5 hours each night can help stretch the muscles in the calf and foot. They hold the foot in a flexed position that naturally extends the plantar fascia which may facilitate healing.
Certain essential oils massaged into the plantar fascia can help with pain and inflammation, being that they possess anti-inflammatory properties. These include peppermint, lavender and eucalyptus oil. Simply dilute these essential oils into a carrier oil, such as almond or coconut oil and massage them into the foot.
Supplementation may also help speed recovery. Tendons contain approximately 85% of collagen type 1. Collagen provides structure and strength to tendons and is the body’s most abundant protein. It’s what gives connective tissue its elasticity and provides the form and function of our skin and bones. Supplementing with collagen can help reduce inflammation caused by soft tissue injury and help speed healing and recovery.
While collagen provides strength and support to tendons and ligaments, mucopolysaccharides are the glue that hold them together and allows for the flexibility of movement. Mucopolysaccharides are made by your body intrinsically and have various functions—from immune system support to gut health to lubricating our joints. After puberty, however, our body stops producing mucopolysaccharides, and we must rely on food sources to obtain an adequate amount.
Mucopolysaccharides also serve as the joint’s shock absorber and lubricant. It is also speculated that mucopolysaccharides increase collagen protein synthesis.
Vitamin C helps your body to make collagen, so it is considered a co-factor to collagen protein synthesis. Because vitamin C is water soluble, it’s difficult for your body to store. It’s important to ensure you’re getting daily doses of vitamin C.
A proprietary combination of collagen type 1, mucopolysaccharides and vitamin C at a specific clinical dose has demonstrated an ability to repair tissue. Its mechanism of action involves blocking inflammation while stimulating the production of cells that promote healing. Improved recovery has been demonstrated in studies involving participants with plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff tendons, tennis elbow and Achilles tendonitis after three months of supplementation.
Our Acute Injury is a unique proprietary complex formulated especially for tendon structure health and recovery. This advanced supplement contains Mucopolysaccharides, Type I collagen and Vitamin C which contribute to the normal formation of connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments. The ingredient’s efficacy and safety are supported by several scientific and clinical studies with positive outcomes on physical function, mobility, vitality and mental health.
Acute Injury utilizes the latest research from Europe to deliver to your body the building blocks for healthy tendons. 5 scientific studies support its efficacy and safety. A study published in 2009 showed that ingredients in our Acute Injury produced noticeable and measurable results in a variety of parameters among those receiving the capsules compared to control groups. - This well-researched formula can help promote over 4,000 tendons in your body.
Plantar fasciitis is truly a pain in the foot, but you can help reduce the frustration, pain, inflammation and down time with natural remedies that support your body’s intrinsic abilities to heal itself.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/plantar-fasciitis#symptoms
https://www.kurufootwear.com/technology
https://heelthatpain.com/15-plantar-fasciitis-facts/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21751149%20%20%20