While stepping out of bed and having experience of sharp pain in your heel, then you are not alone. There are many users whose first painful step is one of the classic signs of plantar fasciitis. This very common foot problem influences users of every age. Whether the person is an athlete, office worker or those who stand for prolonged periods.
Talking about the users dealing with consistent heel pain and are searching for simple solutions that can make daily life comfortable from the pain. A simple solution that is generally suggested to many, no matter the cause of plantar fasciitis, is the use of ankle support or socks.
But the question arises, does ankle brace heals the pain of plantar fasciitis? The answer is not that simple. Even though ankle support is not a cure for your plantar fasciitis. Ankle support is a beneficial tool to relieve your pain and add support for your healing if you include it with other methods.
This blog is all about how ankle support actually acts and when it can help to manage plantar fasciitis effectively.
What Does Plantar Fasciitis Mean?
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of pain that occurs in the heel. It happens when a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from the heel to the toes, becomes irritated or inflamed.
The plantar fascia serves as a natural shock absorber which supports the arch of the foot. It helps in distributing body weight during walking and running. When this tissue is frequently put under repeated stress or excessive stretching, tiny tears can develop, resulting in the inflammation and pain of these conditions.
These symptoms can develop slowly over time instead of occurring quickly and then get worse as more is needed if no action is taken.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Users dealing with plantar fasciitis often face:
- Sharp ache around the heel.
- Pain with those initial steps in the morning.
- Feeling pain or pressure after prolonged sitting.
- Heel pain that improves with mild movement but recurs after prolonged activity.
- Pain in the sole of the foot or pain upon touch.
- Tightness in the arch of foot or the calf muscles.
What Leads to Plantar Fasciitis?
The chances of developing the risk of plantar fasciitis may also be greater if:
- Standing for extended hours.
- Running on hard surfaces.
- Wearing footwears with poor arch support.
- Stiff calf muscles.
- Flat feet or very high arches.
- Sudden increases in physical activity.
- Excess body weight.
- Age-related changes in foot flexibility.
How Does Ankle Support Work?
An ankle support is an orthopedic aid, crafted to stabilize the ankle joint with gentle compression and restricting excessive movement. So the purpose of ankle brace is not to cure plantar fasciitis, but can affect the mechanics of the foot as well as the ankle in ways that may reduce strain on the plantar fascia.
Providing extra support around the ankle allows your foot to remain better aligned whilst walking and standing. This enables the stress exerted across your whole foot to be more widely dispersed. For some users, this extra support can make everyday movements feel more comfortable.
Can Ankle Support Actually Relieve Plantar Fasciitis?
The answer in short is yes, but to a certain extent only. Ankle support can help relieve the symptoms if a weak, unsteady ankle results in motion that is not what it should be on your foot. While it should be considered as part of a comprehensive recovery plan rather than a standalone solution.
Following are some of the potential benefits include:
Improved Foot Stability
Ankles work with your heel and arch during every step you make.If you rotate the upper part of your ankle excessively inwards or outwards, it will place excessive pressure on the lower leg and the plantar fascia. Here the use of ankle support reduces the unnecessary movement, while allowing the foot to move more efficiently while walking.
Limited Strain on the Plantar Fascia
The support will also keep your foot in a proper biomechanical position, thereby preventing excess stress on your plantar fascia (the tendon). Less strain equals less inflammation and eventually, less pain.
Gentle Compression
Some ankle supports give you mild compression, which can result in minimizing swelling and better circulation about your ankle as well as foot.
Although plantar fasciitis itself does not lead to significant swelling, improved circulation may contribute to overall comfort during daily activities.
Greater Confidence While Walking
If pain persists, it might alter the way a person walks, along with other issues. The down side is that the need to limp or place stress on knees, back and hips.
Ankle support brace can help instill a sense of security when bearing down and promote a more normal stride pattern.
Can Plantar Fasciitis Be Prevented?
It is not preventable always, but there are tips that can help reduce your chances of it developing:
- Wearing supportive footwear.
- Stretching calves and feet regularly.
- Gradual increase in workout intensity.
- Maintaining healthy weight.
- Do not stand for extended hours.
- Replace your footwears when their cushioning starts to wear out.
- Strength and stability of your foot and ankle muscles.
Final Thoughts
So, does an ankle support help plantar fasciitis? The answer in any case is that in the majority of cases it can lessen symptoms as it increases the stability of your ankle which can in turn contribute to neutral alignment and reduce excessive stress on the plantar fascia.
This addition can ease their day a bit for those with only minor imbalance issues, or anyone that needs to stand for a long stretch.
Most of the best ways to manage and help prevent further occurrences of your pain is through directly addressing the issues which caused it. Your doctor can help identify the root cause of the problem and is the easiest way to protect yourself from further injury and pain, effectively resolving your current problem to a significant extent.
