The ankle plantar flexors, or ankle extensors, include the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles on the back of your lower legs, which are referred to collectively as the calves. This motion involves pointing your toes, or increasing the angle between your foot and lower leg. Stretching the calves, which requires moving through the opposite range of motion -- ankle dorsiflexion -- to maximally lengthen the two muscles, can increase your flexibility and may help prevent injuries. Avoid forcing any stretch too far, however, because doing so may...
The plantar fascia expands and contracts, allowing the foot to function like a spring. When the plantar fascia becomes tight or stressed, the numerous joints in the foot cannot function properly, impeding locomotion and causing...
The primary plantar flexors are the gastrocnemius, the visible calf muscle, and the soleus, which sits underneath the gastrocnemius. Stretching releases muscle tension and soreness and increases flexibility. Better flexibility ...
You use your plantar flexor muscles all the time, and if you do not stretch them, tension builds up, causing pain in the calves and even the plantar fascia. The plantar flexor muscles include the gastrocnemius and soleus calf m...
This area is called the plantar fascia, and inflammation in this area may make it painful to walk or even move. However, you may perform stretches to reduce the tension, stiffness and pain along the bottom of the foot and impro...
The condition can be difficult to resolve, and it can take weeks or months before symptoms disappear. Stretching is one way to provide long-term pain relief and improve flexibility in your foot and heel.
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that stretches from the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot. Overuse and overstretching can cause it to become inflamed; this plantar fasciitis is one of the most ...
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the plantar fascia is most often damaged due to prolonged standing, conditions such as diabetes, being overweight, aging and having flat feet or little or no arch. Luckily...
This band connects the toes to the heel bone. Plantar fasciitis pain generally occurs after the foot is immobile for a long period of time, such as first thing in the morning or after sitting for a long period of time. One way ...
The Achilles tendon or heel cord and the plantar fascia both attach at different parts of the heel bone. This tendon is the common tendon of the calf muscles, the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Stretches which reduce the angle b...
The plantar fascia, also called aponeurosis plantaris, attaches to the inner side of the calcaneus--the heel bone--and runs up to the toes along the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis results when this sheath of tissue becom...
The plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs between the heel and the toes, acts as a shock absorber for the foot. If it becomes over-stressed, it becomes inflamed and painful, especially after periods of inactivity.
A...
According to Plantar-Faciitis.org, close to 2 million Americans report episodes of heel pain each year. The number may be even higher when the number of people who do home treatments are included. Specific stretching and exerci...
If left untreated, your condition can become chronic. One way to treat this condition is to perform stretches on a regular basis.
The condition can occur due to overuse, flat feet, fallen arches, obesity, injury or the effects of aging. Plantar fasciitis can become a chronic problem if not treated, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons...
This chronic condition can cause sharp pain when running, walking or standing for long periods. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory medications, ice, splints, orthotics and in severe cases, surgery. You should also stretch you...
The plantar fascia is a chord of strong tissue that runs from the heel to the toes on the bottom of the foot. When this tissue gets inflamed or irritated, a condition known as "plantar fasciitis" can develop. This can lead to s...
Do stretching exercises before you get out of bed in the morning in order to control the heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia, a fibrous tissue on the bottom of your foot, tightens overnight and can produce...
Plantar fasciitis has a way of sneaking up on people who have never had a symptom similar to the sharp, striking foot pain that springs from the heel. You can wake up in the morning, put your foot on the ground and find that, ...
