Plantar Fasciitis manage your pain with MendMeShop Products

Plantar & Foot Injuries

Foot Related

Tendinopathy

Achilles Tendon Injury

Acute Tendinitis

Chronic Tendinitis

Peroneal Tendonitis

Posterior Tibial Tendonitis
(Tendonitis of the Foot)

Repetitive Strain Injury

Shin Splints (calf pain)

Strained Tendon

Dear MendMeShop,

My fasciitis was better the day after I used this. The product shipped the day after I ordered it.

Rating: Five Star Rating

Lisa Gamuciello

Dear MendMeShop,

I am using the ultrasound mostly 3 times a day. I occasionally can only get in 2 times a day due to the traveling at present. I think I have had good results, it has helped a constant pain go away, unfortunately I continue to have occassions where I move a certain way and my shoulder is in pain. This causes a set back. At present these pain times are less severe and I'm having fewer of these occurances. I rest my arm as much as possible. I bought an AC adapter for use in the car while on the road. All the walking I've done over the past 6 days has caused a knot to reappear in the arch of my foot from a previous injury to a tendon sheath. I've used the ultrasound on it and it helps it go down and has greatly eased the pain, since I'm still needing to walk. The ultrasound has been a blessing for me and I'm sure will continue to do so.

Rating: Five Star Rating

Vonda Clerke

More Plantar Facts:

The plantar fascia supports the arch of the foot in carrying the weight of the body.

Approximately 90% of women and 40% of men with plantar fasciitis are overweight.

It frequently affects athletes, people who are on their feet all day and those over 40 years of age.

Among professional athletes, plantar fasciitis is one of the 5 most common foot and ankle injuries.

If left untreated the condition could become chronic and can lead to a host of other issues.

Most sufferers are able to overcome the pain with non-invasive therapy.

Night splints prevent contraction and stretch your plantar fascia while you sleep to help with pain.

Treatment includes avoiding the activity, icing the inflammation, gently stretching and warming the area.

Ultrasound can speed plantar fasciitis recovery significantly.

Dear MendMeShop,

I have been using the Platinum Plantar/Spur Therapy Combo which includes the Ultrasound device, Inferno Plantar Wrap, and Freezie Plantar Wrap for about 10 days now to treat my plantar fasciitis. PF is a very painful condition that made it impossible for me to run, jump, walk my dogs, or keep up with my family on outings of any length. Mornings were especially tough-going, as I would sit and do stretching excercises that would provide me little relief, just so I could get from the bed to the coffee. I have experience with treating PF in my left foot about 5 years ago. There had been no recurrence, and since I have had no problem with any activity or with wearing any style of shoes on that foot, I thought I had conquerred PF long, long ago. Who knows what brought it on this time? I felt quite responsible that I had done something wrong and really bore the guilty feelings that I had messed up my foot doing something stupid. My nurse practitioner said that while there are bad habits that can cause PF, he truly thinks from his experience that I probably didn't do anything in particular to bring it on. I was, honestly, just living my active life when suddenly, I couldn't walk from the bed to the bathroom. This time, when I had the first signs of PF in my right foot in late April, I tried the things my doctor had prescribed in the past on my own. Stretching, night splint, and non-steroid antiinflamatory. After a couple of weeks, I realized I needed something more. I have a big trip planned with my family at the end of August, and I really don't want to have too much trouble keeping up with everyone. I went to the nurse practitioner, and he recommended physical therapy but cautioned that since I would probably go only a couple of times a week, the results would take awhile. He suggested that I look into home ultrasound. Then I could do the treatment myself, and therefore, administer as many treatments as I could a day. He suggested three times a day. I looked on the internet for a reputable company with a good return policy and a wide selection of products. I found MendMeShop.com and ordered the Platinum Package to take advantage of heat, cold, and ultrasound therapy. I have only been using the products for a short time, but I have had a noticeable decrease in my pain and an increase in my range of function. The ultrasound is my magic wand to me. I know it is this product that has made the most change, since I had already been using heat and ice on my own. It is an easy to use device, even accounting for the awkward position one must get into in order to apply it to the bottom of one's foot. Although I had been applying heat and ice before, the Inferno Plantar Wrap and Freezie Plantar Wrap are much more efficient ways to do it. The wraps fit comfortably on my small foot and apply the correct or even adjustable levels of temperature. The compression does its job physiologically, but it just plain feels good! And when you have PF, that alone is a joy! My therapy of a NSAID along with a night splint now includes the ultrasound two or three times a day for fifteen minutes, heat wrap on wakening and after ultrasound, and the Freezie Wrap only after much acitivity. To turn around PF, one must take therapy seriously and not go at it in a hit or miss manner. Keeping to this treatment plan, I am able at day ten to wake without pain, walk at a moderate pace, and participate in my desired activities at a much more active level. Although it seems time-consuming, I only have to think of all the wasted time and missed fun of spending time in a chair while friends and family are up enjoying activities I could not possibly participate in. I am quite optimistic that continuing this therapy plan on my own will lead to a painless, comfortable foot. I look forward to my vacation feeling quite certain that I will be in good enough shape to enjoy it. I can bring the US therapy, and heat and cold wraps along; they are so easily portable. I know that this condition may take about a year to fully resolve in my left foot, so having products that are easy to transport are a must for me. I travel often, and I don't want to be without the benefit of continued therapy for anytime at all. Thank you very sincerely for your high-quality product and kind personal attention. I also want to add that it is quite easy to waste a lot of money when you have this condition. I have enough worthless shoes, insoles, arch supports, splints, heat wraps, and ice bags to fill a foot hospital! To purchase a product with a 60 day money back guarantee is a relief. That amount of time is truly necessay to see if it provides long-term relief. I know this is a long testimony, but I hope I have adequately expressed to you my satistaction. I can honestly say that I couldn't do without these products, and I highly recommend your website to friends and family. I believe in you so much that I might honestly approach a limping stranger on the street and tell him about the Inferno Wrap and my 'magic wand ultrasound therapy'! Thank you Paul for you kind phone call yesterday, your suggestions, and encouragement. It is slow-going to see improvement in this condition, it is sometimes hard to stay optimistic, it is easy to have set-backs, and often it is quite misunderstood by other people. Your product truly supplies hope for PF sufferers like me.

Rating: Five Star Rating

S Reedy

Dear MendMeShop,

I had Plantar Fasciitis a few years ago and it took months to get over it. This time around I had been treating it with ice, NSAIDs, a night boot, etc. for about 4 weeks before I got the ultrasound and radiant heat tools from the MendMeShop. I was making little or no progress, and it was painful to walk. After two weeks of using the ultrasound and radiant heat I can now walk and run pain free. I have already referred several friends and relatives to MendMeShop.

Rating: Five Star Rating

Tim Odell

Get on Track: Beating Plantar Fasciitis

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis Anatomy and Information

Plantar Fasciitis (pronounced "PLAN-ter fash-ee-EYE-tus") is an inflammation of the Plantar Fascia, the tissue along the bottom of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes, and supports your arch. This condition affects over 2 million Americans and is typically characterized by intense stabbing pain in the heel - particularly first thing in the morning or after a period of activity. In many cases the pain decreases as the fascia warms up during the day but some poor sufferers (typically those with a chronic condition) are plagued all day with the pain.

What happens to the fascia?

Think of your plantar fascia as your body's shock absorber. Throughout the day the fascia supports the arch of the foot in carrying the weight of the body. Sometimes, when the impact is too great, tiny tears will appear in the fascia. If the impact level continues unchanged, in time these tears will become inflamed.

What causes it?

taking care of your feet is vert important - to prevent plantar fasciitis

Basically this condition is caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia or biomechanical faults causing the inward rotation of your foot. In most cases it can be attributed to long periods of weight bearing particularly when using unsupportive footwear, extra weight bearing, obesity, inactivity, poor weight distribution due to faulty foot mechanics, or sudden changes in weight distribution (as when playing sports). So what can be done?

Most sufferers are able to overcome the pain with non-invasive therapy and get back to their work or favorite pursuits - treatment times vary but expect to allow 6 to 18 weeks for recovery. If left untreated however, there is a risk that the condition will become chronic which can possibly lead to a host of other issues. Typically we find that what happens in the feet directly impacts the proper functioning of the knees, hips, and back as you change your body mechanics to adjust for the pain or discomfort.

The good news is there are many steps you can take right in your own home to speed your recovery time and prevent this condition from reoccurring all you need is the right information, the right tools, and the right attitude.

What do I do first?

The first step is easing your pain. Treatment needn't be invasive or painful. Most treatment plans focus on temporarily avoiding the activity causing the inflammation, stretching and warming the affected area, bringing down the inflammation, and healing the tears. MendMeShop has the tools you need to specifically treat plantar fasciitis pain:

a Plantar Freezie Wrap™ (cold compression eases swelling and inflammation) shop
a Plantar Inferno Wrap™ (blood flow stimulation therapy Inferno Wrap warms and relaxes the tight fascia) shop
MendMeShop Ultrasound Device (ultrasound therapy breaks down scar tissue to prevent re-injury of the Plantar) shop

Preventative Measures

How do I stop it from coming back?

Treatment is only the first step. The next step is to find out why it happened in the first place. The reasons will vary among suffers, but as mentioned earlier there are a few factors commonly associated with increased risk of developing this condition, notably carrying excess weight and inactivity, activity overload, wearing unsupportive shoes, and faulty foot mechanics. To prevent a recurrence of plantar fasciitis these factors need to be addressed:

Drop the weight

healthy weight range is important in combating plantar fasciitis

The Mayo clinic states that if your Body Mass Index (BMI); that is, the ratio between your height and age, is between 25 and 29.9 you are considered overweight - above that is considered obese. Maintaining a healthy weight range is important in combating plantar fasciitis as well as a host of other medical and emotional problems. Your waist measurement and medical history are also important factors: it's worth speaking to your doctor about if you fall within this category. To measure your BMI, click here.

If you find that your BMI is above the healthy range, know that there are simple steps you can take to get you to that healthy range. Although there have been countless books, pills, and diets dedicated to finding the magic pill to weight loss, there really is no such secret. The basic principle of weight loss is simple; energy in must be slightly less than energy out. That is, don't consume more than you expend. This is the key - you need to watch what you eat and get moving; if you commit to both of these goals you will see the results of a steady and safe weight loss. For more info on how to get started, click here.

Fix your gait and your shoes

Faulty bio-mechanics of your foot can be responsible for numerous foot conditions including plantar fasciitis and heel spurs; however, if left uncorrected it may lead to other complications including shin splints, runner's knee, jumper's knee, ilio-tibial band syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunctions, and chronic low back pain.

How your gait can affect your plantar fascia

Pronation (the inward rotation of your foot) can put pressure on your arch and aggravate the fascia. Having a high arch, being flat-footed, or having an abnormal gait can affect weight distribution putting extra pressure on the fascia as it works to absorb the impact.

How do you know if you have faulty foot mechanics? Look at your shoes. Is one side of the heel more worn than the other? This is a good indication of either pronation or over-pronation (rolling out) and both lead to complications. Your best course of action is to have your gait checked by a professional. This can be done by a podiatrist, orthopaedist, or physical therapist. These days many specialty footwear stores have equipment and experts in house as well but be sure to check their credentials first. For a list of professionals near you go to www.aofas.org, www.apma.org or www.aapsm.org. For more information on gait analysis see this article: http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/01/health/he-gait1.

Now you know what you are doing wrong but to make a lasting difference you also need to consider your footwear. All the efforts in the world to fix your gait won't amount to much if you still insist on walking around the mall for 4 hours in your 3 inch heals or taking a hike in your sandals - Plantar Fasciitis is often called flip-flop disease and for good reason. If you are overweight or if you intend to spend a long time on your feet while carrying extra weight or are planning a long walk or run - it is absolutely critical to the health of your feet that you wear supportive shoes. This means shoes with some arch support, a slightly raised but stable heel, and cushioning for shock absorption. Wear hiking boots for hiking, running shoes for running and walking, and save the flip flops for the beach and the heels for the dance floor. And when recommended, use orthothics to correct your stride.

Activity: too much/too little

Finally, the third most important aspect to consider in preventing Plantar Fasciitis is how much you are asking of your feet.

The old adage, "move it or lose it" is true to a certain point for all soft tissue. Your soft tissues are intended to be used, to be stretched, or called upon for support and strength. Of course, moving your body is a critical factor in maintaining or reducing your weight but it goes further, you need to keep all the parts of your body moving regularly in order to ensure their proper function. Immobilization and inactivity is known to cause atrophy and early fatigue in muscle tissue and can lessen the levels of collagen and water in connective tissue making it less elastic, more brittle, and weaker. For good foot health, wear sensible shoes and get those feet moving.

Of course there is another adage we need to consider - "You can have too much of a good thing". It is not uncommon to see physical therapists' and podiatrists' waiting rooms filled with high-performance runners and weekend warriors. Many of us have been taught to push through the pain to achieve our goals - and this is evidenced at extreme endurance events over and over. However, if you want to be in it for the long run you have to learn to listen to your body's signals. Foot pain means there is something wrong - something that needs to be fixed. Left untreated, you will more than likely develop a chronic condition that will very likely lead to further complications. Don't jump in head first to your exercise program, go feet first and be smart: get advice, start slowly and listen to your body.

Plantar Fasciitis is a painful and debilitating condition that can stop you in your tracks. But have hope, with MendMeShop's comprehensive Plantar Fasciitis treatment kits, and a few steps in the right direction you can successfully treat the pain and stop it from coming back. You have the right tools and the right information, now it's up to you to take action and get back on your feet again!