[MP+4]

I last trained about five weeks at my last grading (nidan-successful) and since then my plantar fasciitis problem has come back with an absolute vengeance. I had been controlling it with daily ice and stretching routines (rotational hamstring stretch/rotational plantar fascia stretch,etc). I've also been following a regime of strengthening (toe walking, toe grasping,etc). I've had the problem about 2 years but never this bad with almost daily pain, then it disappears and then it comes back. I've also had stabbing pain up my ankle.

My question is this: has anyone followed a regime of stretching and strengthening that has led to success or have you been forced to visit a podiatrist?

Any input will be gratefully received as it is depressing the hell out me.

[darieBarexish]

i have similar but different problem. it's shooting pain in the back of my heel. from the x-ray, it seems i have bone spur on the back of my heel. the pain is more annoying than anything else, but it gets on my nerve. on bad days i have problem walking. i do normal stretching, and on bad days 800mg of motrin along with other perscription med from the doc to prevent swelling. lots and lots of stretching before the keiko, and about 10 min into the practice, i don't notice the pain. but the morning after is a killer. it's either this or cutting it open and having some doc to take something out of my heel.

pete

[eXC3Kvnn]

Hi Czech fan,
Very sorry to hear of such troubles. I've no expert advice to give I'm afraid, I just hope it all heals up for you eventually. Look forward to keiko with you again in the future.
Regards

[egoldhyip]

Dude,

If you're "controlling it" with ice and whatnot, then I'd say you're only treating symptoms and not the actual problem.

About the only thing you can do is to do NO KENDO for about a month and let the thing heal before you start doing anything else to it that may make it a permanent, untreatable(?) problem. It sucks to be out for that long, but that's about what it'll take, in my opinion.

I had a stint with plantar facieitis about... 2 or 3 years ago. I laid out for a month and have never had any problems with it since.

I don't think icing it down regularly is going to help it heal when you turn right around and put it through a training session again. And again. And again.

Even going through stretching/strengthening excercises may be detrimental... I suspect you first need to let it heal and then work on stretching/strengthening. This has been going on for TWO YEARS? ... wow. You probably need to see a doctor at this point.


Just my 2 cents.

[DYjLN8rF]

I agree with Tango.
(And congratulations on a much deserved promotion. Knew you'd romp it.)

[77Dinaartickire]

My question is this: has anyone followed a regime of stretching and strengthening that has led to success or have you been forced to visit a podiatrist?

I suffered from a pretty serious bout of plantar faciitis a few years ago, so I can empathize. I tried all kinds of things, including icing, stretching that specifically targets the plantar facia, as well as hobbling along on doses of anti-inflammatories. But the thing that eventually solved the problem for me was yoga. It seems that stretching only the plantar facia doesn't really address the issue that tendons are all connected. So you need to stretch the entire back of the leg, including the calves and hamstrings and lower back.

[provigil]

I think the best answer is see a doctor.

[poekfpojoibien]

I had a similar problem rested it for 3 months. It came back as soon as I started training, and started to affect my achilles. Rested for 4 months ibid.

I had what I believed was a problem with my achilles saw a podiatrist, turned out to be fallen arches and now wear the custom inserts ($900) and have major tape on my feet when I train.

The problem came back, bought "Achilles Tendinitis Prevention and Treatment" by Peak Performance (available on the net). It gives a few dozen specialized exercises similar to the ones you have been doing and a breakdown of what might need fixing.

Went to see my physiotherapist to check out the appropriateness of the exercises and stretches - he liked the book. Upon examination of my feet he discovered that my problem might be due to frozen big toes. My big toes do not bend, as a result, instead of going over the front I go over the outside -over extending my achilles and most of the other muscles in the area.

Bottom line, if you let it rest and it comes back go see a doctor. If it does not improve after treatment, go see another one. Unless you get a proper diagnosis you are wasting your time. BTW I am on session 1 of 6, I am keeping my fingers crossed that he has finally figured it out.

I normally walk like a duck. It took me a lot of sweat to straighten my feet for kendo. After hours and hours of suriachi I now fight with my feet straight only to discover that I actually have a problem similar to those who walk with pidgeon toes. Life is full of ironies

[Bigroza]

Halcyon, the execises I have been doing are for the 'whole leg' and not just for the plantar. I haven't been doing them for long though (2 weeks). But you would definitely say they (the yoga you did) worked?

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to help me.

[Dodoerabe]

Halcyon, the execises I have been doing are for the 'whole leg' and not just for the plantar. I haven't been doing them for long though (2 weeks). But you would definitely say they (the yoga you did) worked?

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to help me. Are you coming home at Christmas don don?

(Don't know why this posting has appeared twice!)

[Roferurse]

Halcyon, the execises I have been doing are for the 'whole leg' and not just for the plantar. I haven't been doing them for long though (2 weeks). But you would definitely say they (the yoga you did) worked?

Well, it certainly worked for me. I think the difference between the exercises I was doing before compared to yoga was that yoga treats the body as an intergral whole. I guess for me, the inflammation of the plantar facia was symptomatic of the stresses I was putting not only on that tendon but other parts of the body too. But of course, your mileage may vary.

[pharmaclid]

Hi Czech Fan...

Sorry to hear that the exercises are not giving relief yet...

Just a thought, but with this great weather that we're having at the moment, could you do a bit of cycling? This would strengthen the supporting muscles and stretch the tendons... not sure how this would fit with your timetable etc...

Or is there a gym you can go to that has a recumbent bike... this gives the exercise without the pressures on the back that you get with a normal bike....

Hope to see you soon...

Cheers

[GreefeWrereon]

My advice start wearing a Heel pad. I've got a bruised heel before so bad that I could barely walk. My solution = take it easy take a break for a while untill it completely heals. During kendo try not to put so much essence in your fumikomi but more in your hit.

Also when u do fumikomi make sure when ur foot is hitting the ground, that your foot hits its parallel, not your toes pointing UP so that all the momentum goes to the back of your heel. that would be ouch!

[viiagrag]

Hmm. Brings up a detail I forgot to ask you, Czech Fan. In which foot is the plantar facia bothering you?

[sarasaraseda]

Well, it certainly worked for me. I think the difference between the exercises I was doing before compared to yoga was that yoga treats the body as an intergral whole. I guess for me, the inflammation of the plantar facia was symptomatic of the stresses I was putting not only on that tendon but other parts of the body too. But of course, your mileage may vary.

Which type of yoga do you practice (Hatha, Birken, Ashtanga, Iyengar....) ?

[Mark_NyB]

Hmm. Brings up a detail I forgot to ask you, Czech Fan. In which foot is the plantar facia bothering you?

Halcyon ,what does it indicate if it is on the left?

[arrasleds]

Which type of yoga do you practice (Hatha, Birken, Ashtanga, Iyengar....) ?

Just your standard Hatha yoga, with some Anusara thrown in.

[Mumeseest]

Halcyon ,what does it indicate if it is on the left?

Well, I ask because if the pain is in the right foot, it could be a result of improper fumikomi, whereas if it's in the left foot, it's likely that it's something entirely different, though hard to say exactly what.

[SkeniaInhilla]

Just your standard Hatha yoga, with some Anusara thrown in.

Thanks,
I have also come to the conclusion that yoga might be part of a balanced solution. Unfortunately, over the last couple of years I have had a number of yoga false starts. I have not tried Hatha yet, maybe that is what I have been looking for

[untostaronaf]

It's my left foot. I remember it first starting when we had to do lots of jumping suburi midway through a session as a 'reward' for not winning.

Due to not doing anything I have had an attack of lethargy over the last week. All I have done is watched the World Cup and spent some really good time with my family. And the pain has eased! I like this medicine.