Plantar Fasciitis: Try Taping
Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Running Injuries and other Running topics.
Plantar Fasciitis: Try Taping
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot becomes irriated. This band of tissue is called the plantar fascia. Rest and ice are the first-line steps to treatment, but some runners also get some pain relief from taping the affected foot.
Of course, you need to figure out what caused your plantar fasciitis in order to cure it, but if you want to try taping while you're healing, here's one way:
-Start by taking a length of sports tape from the base of your baby toe down around the lower outside edge of your heel, and back up to where you started.
-Then make another loop, but this time start and end below your big toe. You will have a X-pattern across the bottom of your foot.
Note-make sure the tape is in contact with the bottom of your foot, not stretched so tight that it is suspended.
-Next, take small pieces of tape and place them across the bottom of your foot starting at the front of the heel (this is probably where it hurts the most) and working up the arch to where the ball of your foot starts. Ideally, you will feel that you have a bit more support for your sore foot.
But if your problem persists, see a podiatrist!
| Guru Spotlight |
| Heidi Splete |
