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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

You can take some simple steps now to prevent painful steps later:

  • Maintain a healthy weight. This minimizes the stress on your plantar fascia.
  • Choose supportive shoes. Avoid high heels. Buy shoes with a low to moderate heel, good arch support and shock absorbency. Don't go barefoot, especially on hard surfaces.
  • Don't wear worn-out athletic shoes. Replace your old athletic shoes before they stop supporting and cushioning your feet. If you're a runner, buy new shoes after about 500 miles of use.
References
  1. Plantar fasciitis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cf,?topic=A00149. Accessed Jan. 2, 2009.
  2. Sheon RP, et al. Plantar fasciitis and other causes of heel and sole pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 2, 2009.
  3. Pasquina PF, et al. Plantar fasciitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/115323583-3/0/1678/89.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50088-2_1412. Accessed Jan. 2, 2009.
  4. Thomas JL, et al. Clinical practice guideline: The diagnosis and treatment of heel pain. The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery. 2001;40:329.
  5. Running and jogging injuries. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. http://www.sportsmed.org/secure/reveal/admin/uploads/documents/ST%20Running%20and%20Jogging%2008.pdf. Accessed Jan. 5, 2009.
  6. Stracciolini A, et al. Sports rehabilitation of the injured athlete. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine. 2007;8:43.

DS00508

March 24, 2009

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