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Is exercise good for plantar fasciitis?

I was recently diagnosed with severe plantar fasciitis in my right foot. The pain came on about three mos. after I started a daily, 30-min. walking routine after having been a couch potato for many years. I’m awaiting a fitting for orthotics. (Refused the cortisone injections.) I asked my podiatrist when I could get back to my exercise walking. He said I could do so now unless the pain became unbearable. I was surprised at his answer. Dr. Abrams, how can exercise walking on an inflamed ligament be good for it? How can the ligament be allowed to heal when you return to the very activity that caused it to become inflamed in the first place? I’m confused and don’t know what to do. Help! Also…
I should tell you that this condition came on during the latter part of a six month chemotherapy regime. The last four chemo treatments were with Taxotere, known to commonly cause bone and muscle pain — which I now have in both feet and legs. I’m wondering if the Taxotere could have also brought on the inflamation in the plantar fascia, or at least made it worse than it would have been normally. Any thoughts??
Thank you.


1 Comment found

    Vivian Abrams DPM

    9 10

    I would tend to agree with you. Generally when I have a patient who brought this pain on by walking, I recommend swimming or bikeing instead to avoid pounding on the feet.As far as the chemo and a relationship, I can say that I have treated a number of patients who have developed bone pain and even stress fractures from this. I can not say for certain that the plantar fascia became inflamed from it though.Hopefully the orthotics will help. You might also try rolling your foot on a frozen water bottle 10 minutes 2-3 times a day. Put the bottle in the freezer in between uses.

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