What are the best foot exercises to help with Plantar Fasciitis pain?

1. 87

   stephhicks68posted 12 years ago

   What are the best foot exercises to help with Plantar Fasciitis pain?
   
   Pain in the heel and/or bottom of the foot is common when the Plantar Fasciitis tendon becomes inflamed.  What stretches or exercises can help alleviate the condition?

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2. 60

   CHendoposted 12 years ago

   There are a few different stretches and exercises you can perform in order to relieve the pain you feel in your foot and heel.
   
   The first stretch you can do is called the Achilles Stretch. This stretch is performed by standing and facing a wall. Place both of your hand against the wall and move the affected foot back keeping it flat against the floor. Bend your front leg at the knee while keeping your back foot against the floor so you can begin to feel the stretch. Stretch as far as you can until you feel the stretch at the top of your calf muscle. Hold that stretch for 30 seconds and repeat 5-10 times.
   
   The second stretch you can do involves using a step of some sort, whether it be your stairs or an exercise step. Place the balls of your feet on the edge of the stair while holding on to something or someone for balance. Slowly start to lower the heal of the affected foot down until you feel a stretch. Perform this 5-7 times for 30 seconds.
   
   The third stretch I would recommend to help ease the pain would be one you can easily do while performing other tasks, which let's admit, is very important in these fast paced times! While sitting in your favorite chair, lay a sturdy plastic bottle or can on the floor in front of you. Without wearing any shoes, put your foot in the middle of the bottle and begin to roll your foot. You will want to roll from the tip of your toes all the way back to your heel, giving your foot a full range of motion stretch. You can perform this stretch for as long as you would like but you want to go at least 10 times in each direction.

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3. 87

   stephhicks68posted 12 years ago

   Thanks!!  Very helpful!  I will try these exercises tonight.  Should they be done 1 or 2 times per day?

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      tom hellertposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Steph guess who's  plantar faceitis turned into a broken metatasil bone    thats right this guy...so just be careful- life is like a foot problem- ya never know what your gonna get...

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4. 61

   K Nicole Smithposted 12 years ago

   Chendo hit the nail on the head. All of these are good and you can do them rather quickly or take your time while watching television or reading etc. My podiatrist recommends at least twice per day. For #3 you can freeze a bottle of water to use to roll under your foot. It helps with pain and swelling but you don't want to do it on a bare foot.  Works best with a thick sock in that case.

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5. 96

   bdegiulioposted 12 years ago

   I like all that have been mentioned especially the rolling of the foot over a can or tennis ball.  Using a can that is frozen works great.  One other that I find effective is using your toes to pick up a small object like a marble or something similar.  This scrunching motion helps to strengthen the muscles in the foot.  Do this with a pile of marbles a few times per day in addition to the others exercises mentioned.  Good luck.

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6. 60

   tom hellertposted 12 years ago

   Steph- I just was diagnosed with PF for 16 months now- I also get a cortisone shot in the heel. My lack of a major vein in that leg makes the whole thing even more difficult to deal with and painful sometimes it throbs and thumps, I have been recommended all these things as well... but I shall especially try the water bottle thing --ohh maybe  I'll half-freeze it too..
   NICE THANKS Steph

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