We’ve all blamed the dog for eating our homework, making a mess, or eating the last cookie on the table. But those angry rascals can also cause physical injury. The cute furry puppy wags its tail and encourages you to go for a walk every day. Rain or shine, he wants to go. You probably ride it every day and have a set route and pattern.
Sometime in the middle of the night, the dog walk starts to damage your shoes. Your nice, shiny white shoes get older and less supportive. Rubber heels, once firm and comfortable, become soft. The shoes eventually stop absorbing the impact forces of the concrete. The force of the impact goes through the shoes and reaches your feet.
Eventually, the bottom of your foot starts to get a little tired and it hurts to walk. The cunning dog walks you every day and your feet keep absorbing the extra force. Over time, a small blemish becomes more painful and could give you a little sore first thing in the morning. The pain quickly disappears in a few steps. Then one day, you realize that the little pain has turned into a sharp, stabbing pain that lasts 10 steps. That dog has done it again; he made you develop a case of plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition of the fascia (ligament) that runs on the bottom of the foot. This fascia extends from the heel to the toes and supports the entire foot. It stretches with each step and absorbs some of the forces of walking, running, or jumping. In some cases, the fascia can be injured and develop into plantar fasciitis.
There are several different treatments for plantar fasciitis, including ice, stretching, exercises, shoe inserts, orthotics, better shoes, the Graston technique, taping, or cold laser. Cold laser is a newer technique for treating plantar fasciitis.
The cold laser uses specific wavelengths to cause changes inside the body. Different frequencies and wavelengths have different functions. The laser is excellent for reducing pain, inflammation and edema. It will also activate enzymes to produce additional ATP, which is the energy source of cells. Injured cells often have lower energy reserves, so additional ATP means more energy to repair and heal. The laser can also decrease the formation of scar tissue, which is a component of chronic plantar fasciitis.
Cute, furry dogs love their walks, and most aren’t willing to wait weeks for their feet to stop hurting. Give your feet two weeks of ice and rest. If your pain doesn’t improve, seek active treatment for your plantar fasciitis.
