Over a decade ago, I went through years of problems with my feet due to plantar fasciitis. The last podiatrist I saw gave me a set of exercises and stretches to do regularly. I did them while I was his patient but eventually dropped the program over the years. My foot and ankle muscles have gradually weakened on the side where I had surgery on my foot. This has probably contributed to the weakness in the hip on the same side. Could I have prevented this by simply continuing the exercise and stretch regimen prescribed years ago? I wonder.
DR.'S RESPONSE: My first and most obvious question is this: If the exercises worked and you did them regularly, why did you stop? You need to incorporate a stretching routine into your busy schedule, just like brushing your teeth. Let me use an analogy to help illustrate the solution to your foot problems. When you get up every morning, you take a shower. This is most likely because it wakes you up, keeps you smelling fresh, and is an excellent personal hygiene quality to have. Now, let’s say you move to another part of the world for work. Would you change your routine? Would you stop taking a shower? Of course not! You should have kept performing those stretching exercises that your local podiatrist recommended to you. I would probably venture to say at the very least, your plantar fasciitis would not be bothering you.
Foot & Ankle Center, LLC
101 6th Street N.W.
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Phone: 863-299-4551
http://www.flfootandankle.com/
