Living Healthy: Stretching feet can reduce heel pain

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) - Stretching is important - including stretching your feet.

Plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain in adults. It affects about one in 10 people at some point in their lives.

Dr. Pamela Mehta with the Good Feet Store in Palm Desert says the problem starts when a band of tissue that goes from your heel to your toes becomes irritated and inflamed.

She says this can cause a lot of pain, especially when you take your first steps in the morning.

That's why stretching your feet is so important.

Dr. Mehta says flexing and extending the foot helps, and adds that you should also reduce activities that aggravate foot pain to give the plantar fascia time to recover.

Applying ice to the area for 15 to 20 minutes helps, and using supportive products like Good Feet inserts can provide long term relief.