Runner’s World explains the prevention and treatment for those running with plantar fasciitis and includes insight from Jordan D. Metzl, MD, sports medicine physician at HSS.

Dr. Metzl said that plantar fasciitis sufferers typically feel a sharp stab or deep ache in the heel or along the arch of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis-related heel pain tends to strike those who overtrain, neglect to stretch their calf muscles, or overdo hill workouts and speed intervals. “When you have very tight calf muscles, they will pull on the plantar fascia and cause a lot of pain,” noted Dr. Metzl.

According to Dr. Metzl it is critical to address plantar fasciitis as soon as there is pain. “When the fascia comes off the bone, it gets chronically inflamed and can heal exceptionally slowly. Plantar fasciitis can be sore for months because the healing response is proportionate to blood flow. When something has a good blood supply like a muscle, it heals quickly, but the plantar fascia essentially has no blood supply so it can take longer to heal,” he explained.

Dr. Metzl underscored the importance of regularly stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon, first in the morning and three times during the day in both feet.

Read the full article at Runnersworld.com.