President Obama has found himself a new nagging pain, and this time it isn’t coming from politicians or pundits. At his latest physical health examination, Mr. Obama was reportedly diagnosed with ‘recurrent plantar fasciitis’ something, he has apparently been dealing with for quite some time.
President Obama now joins the barrage of high-visibility celebrities who have experienced foot injuries this month. Earlier this month Cher had to be rushed to a hospital for foot pain experienced during rehearsals for her ongoing tour. Harrison Ford was also forced to undergo foot surgery following an accident near his character’s long-beloved Millennium Falcon on the set of the new Star Wars movie.
However, while Cher and Harrison Fords’ injuries may have been more serious than the President’s, that doesn’t make them any less painful. Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain I see in my clinic outside of Annapolis, Maryland. It is a result of inflammation and micro-tearing of the protective ligaments that stretch across the bottom of our feet.
Normally, this problem is particularly common in basketball players, runners, and patients that don’t participate in regular exercise. Additionally, many shoes that are currently in vogue (like flats or flip flops) offer very little arch support, exacerbating existing conditions during long periods of walking or standing.
If pain on the bottom of your feet is bringing you down and making work absolutely miserable, there are steps you can take. Visit your local foot care specialist for the most up-to-date answers to your questions and if you’re in Crofton, Bowie or Greenbelt come check us out at Crofton Podiatry. In the meantime, try my best tips below:
Putting your foot down on plantar pain:
- See your local foot care specialist for tailored Achilles tendon and plantar fascia stretching exercises.
- Wear shoes that are supportive and well-cushioned.
- While seated, cross your affected foot on the opposite thigh, grasp your toes to stretch the arch area and give the arch a good massage to ease the severity of the pain.
- Try to drop some pounds if you’re overweight, to relieve pressure on your feet.
- Take pain relievers such as ibuprofen (which the president takes) or naproxen as suggested by a podiatric physician consult.
By Brad Toll.