plantar fasciitis and riding.

I developed it at Christmas and it's gradually getting worse. Thankfully only in my left foot. Riding is lovely as it takes the weight off, but getting off a 16.2 shire from a side saddle is agony!
 
I had shock wave therapy on mine and it's much better. If you can get an NHS referral to a podiatrist they may look at doing this.

I find stretching my Achilles helps, so theory is having my feet in stirrups is a good thing ?

Insoles are must, I won't wear any shoes without them.
 
I have metatarsalgia. A bit like plantar fasciitis but in the balls of my feet. So riding actually makes it worse :eek:

I echo the rolling of feet on a cold can of coke/plastic coke bottle filled with frozen water.
Good shoes. I wear ariats for riding. Make sure you wear good supportive shoes or insoles for everyday as well.
Bendy stirrups and I find dismounting on to a mounting block is best!


ETA: whoops! just saw how ancient this thread is.
 
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Has anybody had their riding actually make their heel condition worse? I have suffered with this in the past, as I'm a runner, and my heel was niggling a little here and there for the last month, but nothing major, and then I just came back from a riding weekend after 8 hours in the saddle and suddenly I'm in agony with my heel and I haven't done anything else that would cause it. Got up this morning and literally could't walk on it at all! :oops:
 
I've had it in both feet and have never felt pain like it. I had it one foot for a year and the other for 18 months. No amount of physio helped, it eventually went by itself. It didn't stop me doing anything. It was worse if I sat down to rest.
 
Best exercise I found was to stand with my toes on a step and lower the heel strehing the calf muscle. Repeat & repeat! Then my chiropractor used a vibrating roller over the arch of my foot - hurt but really helped. Eventually went away. Wear good supporting shoes at all times.
 
I have had PF twice, once because I didn't keep up the good habits that sorted it the first time!

Also voting for the cold can/tennis ball rolling under your foot, I also have a roller (from Amazon) with little massage nubs which works really well but it looks like a dog chew-toy, so I've had to hide it and hope I can find it if/when I next need it.

I second Bareback Boots, great for dog walking too. Also, FitFlop: the sort with the Wobbleboard footbed work best for me (they do trainers, shoes, slippers and fashion boots as well as sandals), for less horsey/muddy stuff. They're not cheap but there's always sales, discounts and you can find them in places like BrandAlley and MandM Direct. Crocs are NOT good for me, in fact they may have triggered my first attack of PF.

I don't ever go barefoot for more than a few paces even in the house, or wear anything dead flat unless an insole will go in.

Typical wellies aren't good for me, even with a supporting insole. Crocs aren't good for me, in fact they may have triggered my first attack of PF.
 
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