But instead of going over all of the health risks associated with too much sitting and a sedentary lifestyle, let’s focus on what might be keeping you there: severe pain in your heel.
Plantar fasciitis sends about two million people in America to the doctors’ office each year. It’s marked by pain in the heel and the foot’s arch, when the plantar fascia—a thick band of tissue that connects the heel to the toe and supports the arch at the bottom of your foot—becomes inflamed or strained. It’s typically the result of repeated abuse over time, like too much use or pressure. People who are overweight or do high impact activities like running or dancing have the highest risk.
And it hurts. Bad.
Thankfully, quelling the pain and inflammation might be easier than you think. Most people notice pain subsides over a couple of months by using orthotics, avoiding high-impact exercise, and taking the occasional anti-inflammatory. Icing helps, too, and perhaps eating an anti-inflammatory diet can also help prevent consistent pain.
Getting back on your feet as soon as possible encourages better health and a higher quality of life, so dealing with pain and inflammation in the foot quickly, and naturally, can help you get past plantar fasciitis flare-ups. It’s a bit of a long-term approach, but the sooner you get started with an anti-inflammatory plan, the sooner you can eliminate its impact on your life in a few short months.