Plantar Fasciitis: How To Spot, Treat And Prevent This Runner’s Nightmare Few things will derail your marathon training quicker than this cursed heel pain A couple of months into your marathon training plan the chances are you’re doing more running than you’ve ever done before in your life. This brings with it all manner of benefits – you’ll be fitter, leaner, likely a bit smugger – but also the risk of injury. One of the worst injuries a runner can pick up is plantar fasciitis, which can cost you weeks of training time or ruin your race entirely. To help ensure that doesn’t happen, we enlisted Tim Wright, sports physiotherapist and the creator of Virgin Active’s new Beyond Movement service, for advice on diagnosing, treating and preventing plantar fasciitis. What is plantar fasciitis?
“Plantar fasciitis is an overuse injury caused by repetitive over-stretching of the plantar fascia – the thick band of tissue that runs under the foot, forming the arch,” says Wright. “This leads to possible inflammation and thickening of this tissue. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain but can be commonly confused with a diagnosis of achilles tendinitis.” What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?
Pain. Horrible, horrible pain that makes you gasp when you step out of bed in the morning, as Wright explains. “Symptoms of plantar fasciitis consist of a gradual onset of pain under the heel which may radiate forwards into the foot’s arch. There may be tenderness in the sole of your foot and on the inside of your heel when pressing in. It can make it difficult to fully bear your weight or walk. “This can range from slightly uncomfortable to very painful, depending on how badly it is damaged.” The pain tends to be particularly bad in the morning, easing slightly throughout the day. “It’s usually worse first thing in the morning because the foot has been in a relaxed position all night and the plantar fascia temporarily shortens. Walking around usually helps ease the pain as
the tissues warm up and gradually stretch out. Moving after a period of inactivity can also trigger the pain.” What causes plantar fasciitis?
Like most common running injuries, including shin splints and runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis is most likely to rear its ugly head when you suddenly increase the amount of activity you do, such as with a marathon training plan. “Through overuse, the plantar fascia can become inflamed and painful at its attachment to the heel bone,” says Wright. “Most commonly the inflammation is due to poor core stability and tight muscles in the foot and legs (particularly the achilles, calf and hamstrings), resulting in a biomechanical imbalance, particularly in the lower legs. “It is more common in sports that involve running or jumping. Although overuse is ultimately the cause of injury, there are a number of factors which can increase the likelihood of developing it including overpronation (excessive rolling of the foot upon landing), a high arched foot, tight calf muscles, poor footwear, being overweight and previous injury of the lower legs.” How do you treat plantar fasciitis?
Although it’s annoying to miss out on training days, you’ll have little trouble convincing yourself to get some vital rest if you suffer plantar fasciitis, because it makes running very painful. Stretching exercises (see below for five plantar fascia stretches) and taping can help ease the pain. “According to research, a plantar fascia stretching programme produces significant improvements in pain, movement and increased physical activity,” says Wright. How do you avoid plantar fasciitis?
Injuries like plantar fasciitis are one of the reasons it’s important to do more than running when you’re training for a marathon. Strength training that targets the muscles in your lower body and improving your flexibility will help you avoid it. RECOMMENDED: Strength Training For Runners To Help Reduce Injuries “Focusing on flexibility of the lower legs and strengthening leg and hip muscles helps,” says Wright. “Frequent sports massages can help as well, along with not carrying excessive weight. “Having a biomechanical screen with a chartered physiotherapist or registered podiatrist will also help you avoid the injury.”
How much of a difference can the right shoes or insoles make to plantar fasciitis?
Wearing the appropriate gear can help a huge amount when it comes to avoiding the perils of plantar fasciitis. If you are having real issues with the injury, it’s wise to get advice on footwear from an expert. RECOMMENDED: Is It Worth Trying Gait Analysis If You’re Training For A Marathon? “It’s worth trying taping first, and then slowly introducing an orthotic and insole gel is the next thing that’s recommended,” says Wright. “It’s best to seek professional help here from a physiotherapist or podiatrist.” How long will plantar fasciitis stop you from running for?
One reason plantar fasciitis is such a brutal injury is the way it can linger for weeks or months, ready to strike you down the moment you think you’re finally clear. It’s vital to rest when you first feel the pain, because it can rule you out for as much as a year if you exacerbate the injury. “It’s very important not to let the condition become chronic, because then it’s much harder to resolve and can be stubborn – sometimes it can take six to 12 months to fully resolve,” says Wright.
Five stretches to prevent and treat plantar fasciitis Anyone who’s ever had the misfortune to suffer plantar fasciitis will know that you’re willing to try anything to ease the pain. These five foot stretches from Arthritis Research UK, created in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Physiotherapy, are a great place to start. 1. Achilles tendon and plantar fascia stretch
Loop a towel around the ball of your foot and use it to pull your toes towards your body, keeping your knee straight. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat three times on each foot. 2. Plantar fascia stretch
Sit down and rest the arch of your foot on a round object (try a can of beans). Roll the arch in all directions for a few minutes. Repeat at least twice daily. 3. Towel pick-up
Sit on a chair with a towel on the floor in front of you. Keeping your heel on the ground, pick up the towel by scrunching it between your toes. Repeat ten to 20 times. Once you master this, try adding a small weight to the towel.
4. Seated plantar fascia stretch
Sit down and bring one foot up and over your other knee. Grab the base of your toes and pull them back towards your body until you feel a comfortable stretch. Hold for 15-20 seconds. Repeat three times. 5. Wall push
Facing a wall, put both hands on it at shoulder height and place one foot in front of the other. The front foot should be approximately 30cm from the wall. With your front knee bent and back knee straight, bend the front knee towards the wall until the calf in your back leg feels tight. Relax and repeat ten times on each side. Repeat this stretch but bring the back foot forward a little so that the back knee is slightly bent. Repeat ten times on each side.