Plantar fasciitis (PF) in Olympia refers to the pain experienced when there is a tear, inflammation, or damage to the thick web-like band of ligament that stretches from the front to the heel of the foot at the bottom of the foot called the plantar fascia.
The pain can be sharp, stabbing, and immense.
It may make an appearance when using the feet after a while of inactivity suddenly and gets better with activity, only to pain, even more, when the feet have been worked too long or hard.
Common causes for PF include:
- Age: Aging causes weakening of the ligament/ fascia, making it more susceptible to damage.
- Weight: The extra or uneven pressure can weaken the fascia.
- Occupation: Certain occupations which involve working while on the feet for too long can overwork the fascia.
- Infections: When the foot is under infection, it can affect the fascia and lead to inflammation.
- Degenerative diseases: Certain conditions which lead to the degeneration of the fascia.
- Physical activities: Certain activities, like sports, apply strain on the fascia, overworking it. This can include dancing, aerobics, running, etc.
Certain people have a higher chance of PF:
- Females
- 40-60 years old
- Obese
- Those with flat feet or high arches
- Athletes
- Pregnant women
- Spend hours on their feet each day
- Wear heeled shoes
- Have tight Achilles heel or “heel cords”
- Have an unusual walk or foot position
PF, painful as it might be, is not a huge problem.
It is very rare for PF cases to escalate enough to require surgeries and are usually only to lengthen the fascia.
Treatment Options For Plantar Fasciitis in Olympia WA
Icing can help on a temporary and surface level of pain relief.
Resting is a great way to help PF but it isn’t the most feasible with the amount of time it takes for PF to heal and the fast-paced world we all reside in.
It can help to take pain medications, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, injections, etc. to reduce the pain.
But, these could lead to addictions, have side effects, and be only temporary solutions.
You could have the doctors put your feet in braces but these are quite restrictive and have possibilities of pain returning.
Another treatment to turn to would be massage therapy (MT), a non-invasive, long-term, effective, quick treatment for PF.
MT is getting more and more popular as days go by due to its high benefits and almost no cons.
It helps by bringing blood circulation back to the fascia to help it heal quicker, for the inflammation to leave, return functionality, break down scar tissue, and increase lymphatic drainage.
All of that helps immensely improve PF, reduce the pain by a lot quicker and help strengthen the fascia to reduce chances of future pain.
The benefits of MT include:
- Relaxing
- Increases mobility, flexibility, functioning, blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, bodily healing pace
- Raises resistance to future damage and improves muscle strength
- Breaks down scar tissue
- Stress relieving
- Improves immunity
- Relieves pain
- Suitable for all ages and most health conditions
- Immediately effective
- Cost-effective
- Non-invasive, thus, no side effects or addictions
So, if you are a victim of plantar fasciitis, book an appointment with your nearest licensed Olympia massage therapist and get better immediately!
Happy healing!
Washington PTAC Presents…
Small Business Spotlight with Clyde McDade – Chronic Muscle Pain Therapist and owner of Stress Relief Solutions.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with Clyde McDade, a chronic muscle pain therapist and owner of Stress Relief Solutions in Olympia. McDade has owned his business for over three years, and they provide massage to address chronic pain. Their customers are professionals who are under a lot of stress or have been injured in an auto or on-the-job accidents.
McDade credits his recent success to working with the Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).
Thurston EDC: When did you start looking into government contracting?
In 2017, when I decided to return to massage therapy, I started looking at how I could get government contracts for this service. I was frustrated. It didn’t appear that there were a lot of contracts out there for my line of work. The process seemed like a maze and very confusing.
Thurston EDC: How did you learn about PTAC?
I did a local ‘SBA Small Business Thurston County’ search on Google, and PTAC came up.
Thurston EDC: How did PTAC assist you?
I called and spoke with Kate Hoy. I made an appointment with her. I met with Kate, and she made the process straightforward. She said, don’t start on a federal level; start local. She said there are more opportunities and there were more options. She had me attend the ‘Beginning Contracting’ class which gave me more clarity. As we were talking during our second meeting, I told her, “Kate, I want to do massage therapy and make contracts, but I want an online teaching component because it is about the system of stress release.” Kate said, “It would be better for you to market yourself as a stress-release consultant.” “that’s when the light came on. I knew I needed a stress-release system, and the light came on.” She said it would make it easier to go after consulting rather than offering massage therapy.
My first contract I received from Employment Security Department, which was cut short due to COVID. It didn’t start off as lucrative, but I received clients from it, and also, Kate helped me develop a proposal to get more massage clients.
What is your best advice for someone for an aspiring entrepreneur? Kate helped me cut through the weeds. She’ll say, “Here’s what you don’t have to do, what I shouldn’t do. She teaches me where to spend my energy and where to go after opportunities. The experience has been great.” The value that Kate brought to my business was incredible. The number one thing that Kate and PTAC have given me is confidence. When you are a one-person operation and trying to grow, it is nice to have that.
Thurston EDC: What inspires your work and sets you apart from the competition?
I created the Stress Release System, which teaches people how to manage stress in their lives. I have an existing system for stress. One piece of the system is massage, but I also teach stretching, and I am building an online e-course. This is for state agencies and companies.
Thurston EDC: Do you have a business or personal mantra or inspirational quote you’d like to share?
“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford.
