Did you know the average person takes about 10,000 to 15,000 steps a day?

Most people do not count how many steps he or she takes in a day. For an average person the thought of taking a step does not even cross his or her mind, but for Paula it did. Paula found herself counting the number of painful footsteps she had to take before the agonizing ache in her heel began to fade away.

Paula is a 58 year-old housewife and grandmother of two. Paula enjoys spending her days with her two grandchildren, playing with her golden labrador retriever, and walking to stay in shape.

About three months ago when Paula first got out of bed in the morning she noticed that she had a severe pain in her right heel. This was a rather sharp pain that caused Paula to limp for the first several steps she took. After walking for a couple of minutes the pain began to ease up and she felt relief. Also, after sitting for long periods of time, the pain would return when she started to walk again. By late evening Paula typically had a deep dull ache in her heel.

After another month went by, Paula began to dread getting out of bed. Although she wanted to spend the day with her grandchildren and labrador, she couldn’t bear the pain any longer. She finally realized the pain was not going to go away on its own. Paula decided to consult her family physician. After conferring with her physician, she was referred to HealthWorks Rehab & Fitness for physical therapy.

The heel pain Paula experienced was caused by plantar fasciitis. At HealthWorks, Paula worked with a physical therapist to treat her condition. The physical therapist educated Paula about her condition and showed her the appropriate stretching exercises and home therapy techniques she could do to relieve the discomfort and control the inflammation. She was also fit with a custom made orthotic device that went into her shoe to hold her foot in the proper position and relieve the stress on her heel. By following this regimen, Paula was able to relieve her symptoms in three to four weeks. After that, she no longer dreaded getting up in the morning. She was able to wake up and get out of bed and not think about the steps she was actually taking. Also, when Paula got in bed at night after a long day of doing the things she loved to do, she did not have to worry about whether or not she would physically regret them the next morning.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It usually occurs where the plantar fascia, the strong band of tissue on the bottom of the foot, attaches to the calcaneus. It is caused by compromised foot biomechanics and/or increased amounts of walking or running.

Call (304) 599-2515 for more information or visit us on the web at www.healthworksrf.com.