USA Today recently ran an excellent article detailing various professional athletes’ struggles with plantar fasciitis. If you’ve ever suffered from the problem, some of the symptoms the athletes describe will be all to familiar. However, the article poses a very interesting question regarding why it seems that more pros are dealing with this issue than ever before.
“Like Needles Underneath Your Feet”
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah knows all too well about the problem of plantar fasciitis. He played with it nearly all of the 2012-2013 NBA season and was blunt in his assessment of what it’s like. “Plantar fasciitis sucks,” Noah said in the article. “It feels like you have needles underneath your feet while you’re playing.”
Noah, L.A. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, L.A. Angels star Albert Pujols and San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates are just a few of the high-profile athletes who have dealt with the condition in recent years. While the article states there is not enough data to support the notion that plantar fasciitis is more frequent today than in past years, one orthopedist believes it is more prevalent – and he thinks he knows why.
Robert Klapper, the chief of orthopedic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Group in Los Angeles, told the paper that he believes a lack of cross training is one of the biggest factors contributing to the increase. He said that young athletes are tending to spend all of their time on one sport, as opposed to those in the past who would play a variety of sports throughout the year.
Stretching is Key
One thing many athletes do not do enough of, according to Klapper, is stretching. In particular, the article states, calf stretching is key to helping reduce the chances of developing not only plantar fasciitis but also Achilles tendinitis. At Medi-Dyne, we offer products that can help you get a full stretch your before your next workout. Our ProStretch Plus, for example, increases both flexibility and range of motion. If you would like to learn more about this product, check out our e-store or give us a call at 800-810-1740. How do you deal with plantar fasciitis? Share any tips you may have by clicking one of the social media buttons on this page.
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