People suffering from this injury will need to rest their feet for several months for it to heel completely. Additional measures to hasten the healing process will depend on the cause. Runners may need to avoid hitting the roads for about a month before slowly increasing their mileage back up to their regular routine. A physical therapist may also recommend some stretching and strengthening exercises during the recovery period. For pregnant women, the rapid weight gain and unfamiliar weight distribution that triggers the condition will typically go back to normal after the baby is born. Those who are overweight will have to lose some pounds to reduce the stress on their feet. Since running is not advised, they can do cycling, swimming, and other low impact aerobic exercises.
If you suspect that your shoes might be the culprit, then it’s time to get better replacements among the many available plantar fasciitis shoes. The first thing to look for is adequate arch support. Most shoes are flat and when walking or running over long distances, this becomes a problem especially for people with high arches. Next is good cushioning particularly around the heel area which tends to absorb a lot of impact. Then check how heavy the plantar fasciitis shoes are. Even a few ounces can spell a big difference in terms of muscle fatigue. Finally, see if the shoes have a rocked sole. Some manufacturers claim that it effectively disperses impact from the heel to the rest of the foot through their unique design.