PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN PROVIDE RELIEF! P ain in the P lantar F ascia
RIME SPOT ISN’T WORTH IT
Patients suffering from plantar fasciitis know how excruciating those first steps in the morning can be. Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition where the supporting arch of the foot (plantar fascia), which is made up of a thick band of tissue connecting the heel to the ball of the foot, becomes inflamed or tears. Most patients feel pain in the heel or along the arch and ball of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is very common, as it occurs in as many as 2 million Americans per year! Factors that contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis include age, activities that involve prolonged standing, rapid increase in length or levels of activity, decreased calf muscle flexibility, increased body weight, or tendency to pronate. The onset of symptoms of plantar fasciitis typically occur with a sudden increase in activity. You might feel a stabbing pain on the underside of your heel and a sensation of tightness or tenderness along your arch. People with plantar fasciitis may also experience pain in the morning when stepping out of bed, with prolonged standing, after an intense weight-bearing activity like running, when climbing stairs, or when walking barefoot. After your physical therapist evaluates your health and activity history, they may massage and press on your heel area, gently stretch the ankle to bend the top of the foot toward the leg, or gently press the toes toward the ankle to reach diagnosis. Your physical therapist will then develop a specialized program to decrease your symptoms. They may prescribe stretching exercises to improve the flexibility of your ankle and the plantar fascia. They also may encourage you to use a night splint to maintain correct ankle and toe positions, select supportive footwear or shoe inserts, apply ice to decrease pain and inflammation, or tape your foot to provide short-term relief. If you are suffering from plantar fasciitis, physical therapy is a straightforward solution. Give us a call today at 623-544-0300 . We can get you back to functioning normally.
R itz C racker I ce C ream S andwiches
INGREDIENTS
• 4 ounces dark chocolate, melted • 24 Ritz (or generic butter round) crackers • 1 pint your favorite ice cream
DIRECTIONS
1. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Stir until smooth and drippy. 2. Arrange crackers, bottom side up, on a cookie sheet. Use fork to drizzle melted chocolate over crackers, then place them in freezer to cool quickly. 3. Remove crackers from freezer and place small ice cream scoop in the center of 12 crackers. Press remaining crackers, chocolate side down, onto the ice cream scoop. 4. Freeze at least 4 hours before serving. Wrap individual sandwiches in plastic wrap to store in freezer for up to seven days — but they’ll never last that long.
Recipe inspired by joythebaker.com.
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