Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Trigger Point Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

100%

Liz (Scranton, Pa) on 08/06/2010:
5 out of 5 stars

I understand well how terribly painful heel pain can be. It has recurred three times for me, the second time lasting for two years. I had tried countless remedies, orthotics, and devices with limited help. There have been times when I have left my full grocery cart in the store-- not able to stand or walk another minute. Walking from the parking lot into work took everything I had, and often I would use crutches to spare my poor heel. My active lifestyle seemed over. Then, while researching the benefits of deep tissue, self-message, I came across a book on trigger points therapy, that describes the use of a small super ball (35 mm, smaller than a golf ball/one of those knobber things works too) for rubbing around on the bottom of the foot either standing or sitting but with weight on it. The book explains that knots in deep thick muscles of the foot are the cause of the condition that shortens the fascia along the bottom of the foot that in turn causes spurs and other irregularities in the foot's anatomy.

The process is simple: stand or partially stand with as much weight as is bearable on the small super ball under the foot. Roll the ball around from the front of the foot to heel and from side to side DEEPLY, paying special attention to the area directly in front of the heel pad. THIS WILL BE PAINFUL. LIGHTEN UP TILL IT IS BEARABLE. The author describes that it should "hurt so good". This is what is needed to reach the offending trigger points and release them. This should be repeated 4-6 times a day or as often as is convenient. Also, just to the inside of the heel should be deeply messaged with the thumbs as well. I did this for three days, and the pain I thought I would be living with for the rest of my life completely went away! A year later when I felt the first dull ache starting, I again resumed this message, and the pain was gone the next day. Now at least once or twice a week, I use my super ball to prevent the condition. Really works! Just a word about the book: Search on Amazon using "trigger points" There are countless descriptions of self-message techniques that work for relief of pain.

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