plantar fasciitis

Our user asked: "I currently have an incredibly painful occurance of PF in my left foot. I am well aware that one of the ways to help it most would be to lose weight. What I never am able to find is what I can do WHILE I'm trying to lose weight. It's very very painful, so I'm unable to do most exercises comfortably (even standing for a period increases pain) and I'm putting immense pressure on my right leg to compensate. Any advice of what to do in the mean time?"

Ask a PT Response: "For my patients who have a hard time with bearing weight, I would have them perform various stretches on their own at home such as a towel calf stretch, plantar fascia stretch (patient's leg is crossed over other leg and toes are stretched up, massage to the affected region, frozen bottle roll, etc. If there are issues with the anatomy or biomechanics of the feet, I might have patients obtain orthotics or inserts for the foot as well. To obtain a more detailed plan of care tailored to your condition, I would recommend you set up an evaluation with a physical therapist. Best of luck to you."