Plantar Fascia

I think I had Plantar Fascia for a long time now. Unfortunately I just realized it. The good news, upon my research, is stretch and stretch training on calf and foot might be able to cure(?) it.

So I decided to do extensive stretch and strength training. The question is, can't believe I ever ask this, do I really need to cut mileage?

I haven't been running much. If I don't up the mileage now, the Spring marathon plan is out. But I will do what I have to do.

Jerry - you can indeed run through PF, so no worries there. Continue to religiously stretch the calf - both gastroc and soleus - and roll the foot itself (to actually stretch the fascia) on a tennis ball or frozen water bottle ( this helps with any inflammation). I have PF occasionally in one foot and for me, it actually works to stretch the foot by bending it up on to the ball and holding it. This seems to stretch the fascia (bottom of the foot).

Many people who have PF cannot walk around barefoot so they will resort to Birkenstocks when they get out of bed in the morning. I am the opposite in that walking barefoot seems to help mine.

There are ways to tape the foot if need be and these techniques works for some as well. If you ahve already been running through it, then you probably will not need to do anything besides drop back mileage and stretch, stretch, stretch. Others i know have had to stop running for a while and have ART or Graston to the foot.

When I get a flare up I do the same as Michele. Lots of stretching, and rolling the foot on a frozen water bottle. Sleeping with your feet pointing straight up also helps, as it keeps the foot stretched. I have never had to take time off for it other than aborting a bad run once in awhile where it particularly flared up and wouldn't go away. But I do know of people who had to take significant time off, so it can vary.

I had a bad case of PF last year. Ran through it for a while, but after a while it hurt so much I stopped for a few weeks and bailed out of a planned marathon. After resting for a few weeks, I started up running again and added cycling as x-training. I found the cycling really helped with the PF. It wasn't just that it gave me a way to maintain some fitness while running fewer miles - the cycling action actually helped to stretch out the bottom of my foot, so I felt better after cycling. I am continuing to keep some cycling in my running schedule now for that reason, though the PF is much much better.

You'll get through it - try the suggestions you are getting - people swear by them (though different ones seem to work best for different people).

Meanwhile, don't forget, it's all about Jerry!

I've never had a full blown case but when I start to get symptoms I roll it on a frozen water bottle particularly after my runs.

Wendy has had many battles with PF even to the point that she tore it once. She used to get graston treatment on it which helped. Now she swears that the Nike Free is what has cured her PF and she refuses run in anything else.

Thanks all. That convinces me to run through it while working on the issues. Mine is not major, but now I realize I do need to work on it.

Thanks again!

T Miller wrote:I've never had a full blown case but when I start to get symptoms I roll it on a frozen water bottle particularly after my runs.

Wendy has had many battles with PF even to the point that she tore it once. She used to get graston treatment on it which helped. Now she swears that the Nike Free is what has cured her PF and she refuses run in anything else.

I had Graston on mine too and thought that it helped.

I tore my PF in December 2007. Trained for Boston w/ it and ran the race with no PF pain. You can run through it, although be prepared to walk on the outside of your foot all day after a 20 miler. I wore supportive shoes around the house -crocs I think and stretched my calf and soleus religiously.

This is so cool. I will run through it except I got hit by a flu.

Thanks Again!

I have PF in both feet at the moment. I had it last year in one foot prior to the Indy Mini, but my chiro got me through it with Graston-like technique, meds and foot rolling at home.

I set it off last week when I was out for an 8 mile run. I just was not feeling it and wanted to head back to the car. Then I thought about my upcoming 6 month schedule for my first 50 miler. It calls for once a week doing 5 or more miles of power walking. I thought this was a good day for trying that and I cranked it out. I was flying, but right at the end one foot was really hurting. Maybe I should have done only a mile or so the first time? The answer would be yes.

I did 8 miles yesterday with some pain that went away at times. Now I am trying to get through it myself, but I will probably head back to my chiro next week to help.

I just realized this morning that all the foot/calf workouts seem start working. Heehee.

Thanks all for the good advise!

Orthotics and ART helped me.

Michael Mitchell wrote:Orthotics and ART helped me.

Sponsored by Jerry and Joe's tax money.

Jerry wrote:

Michael Mitchell wrote:Orthotics and ART helped me.

Sponsored by Jerry and Joe's tax money.

Ha ha....guess what, I actually paid for my orthotics out of my pocket. Cost me 242 dollars, twice ( I have two). My insurance would not pay for. The ART, I have to pay out of pocket too, because insurance is only paying 10 dollars less than cash pay. So....ha ha...

Michael Mitchell wrote:

Jerry wrote:

Michael Mitchell wrote:Orthotics and ART helped me.

Sponsored by Jerry and Joe's tax money.

Ha ha....guess what, I actually paid for my orthotics out of my pocket. Cost me 242 dollars, twice ( I have two). My insurance would not pay for. The ART, I have to pay out of pocket too, because insurance is only paying 10 dollars less than cash pay. So....ha ha...

Isn't your pocket money from Jerry and Joe's tax as well?

Well, if you mean are you paying my salary at HCC, you are paying about 10 percent of it, I think. I also teach 4 classes a semester and I work 45 hours per week and I have to be on call as a library director on weekends....so...you are getting more bang for your buck sir!!

Michael Mitchell wrote:Well, if you mean are you paying my salary at HCC, you are paying about 10 percent of it, I think. I also teach 4 classes a semester and I work 45 hours per week and I have to be on call as a library director on weekends....so...you are getting more bang for your buck sir!!

Ok, I feel better now. 10% is probably only from Joe's.

Where is Joe?