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Sports Training With Plantar Fasciitis

Topic Overview

If you participate in sports or athletic activities and suffer from plantar fasciitis, there are things you can do to reduce your heel pain.

Wear good athletic shoes:

  • Experts recommend shoes with cushioned soles (especially heels) and good arch supports. Sporting goods stores can tell you about the best shoes. Physical therapists, orthopedists, podiatrists, and sports medicine doctors can also help you learn about shoes.
  • Replace your shoes every few months, because the padding wears out. Also, replace shoes if the tread or heels are worn down. While expensive, replacing shoes is less expensive—and less painful—than a long-lasting heel problem.

Be sensible about training:

  • Try not to do exercise that your body is not used to. Common exercise errors that lead to heel pain include:
    • Suddenly increasing the number of miles you run or walk.
    • Running uphill.
    • Running on uneven or hard surfaces, such as concrete.
    • Excessive sprinting (short, rapid bursts of running).
  • If you do change your exercise routine, do it gradually.

Related Information

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Barry L. Scurran, DPM - Podiatry and Podiatric Surgery
Last Revised July 14, 2011

Last Revised: July 14, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Barry L. Scurran, DPM - Podiatry and Podiatric Surgery

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