What Is Active Recovery
Active recovery is the use of low-intensity exercise to recover after a strenuous workout. You have probably heard that you should do cool-down exercises at the end of a workout. These cool-down exercises can be considered active recovery. This helps prevent muscle fatigue and can help speed up muscle recovery.
How Active Recovery Helps Plantar Fasciitis
Gentle stretches to the plantar fascia help increase flexibility that can help maintain function and keep things loose. Those with plantar fasciitis are usually given a list of stretches to reduce pain and strengthen the tendon. You may even be recommended to attend physical therapy sessions to help you recover from plantar fasciitis.
Check out Dr. Warner’s favorite plantar fasciitis stretches here:
https://www.thehealingsole.com/blogs/news/plantar-fasciitis-stretching-techniques
Other low-stress active recovery methods that can help with plantar fasciitis include walking, cycling, yoga, swimming, and even massage. These low-impact exercises can help stretch and strengthen the muscles in the legs and feet without exhausting them.
Active recovery is ideal for plantar fasciitis due to the fact that plantar fasciitis is often worse after long periods of rest. The plantar fascia tendon shortens during rest and it can be painful as it stretches back out when you go to walk again. This is why it hurts more when getting up in the morning. This is the logic behind the use of night splints! The splints keep the tendon stretched and ready for use in the morning. In addition, plantar fascia pain is often associated with foot weakness. Active recovery allows for foot strengthening during the rehabilitation of the problem. This is a vital technique for low back pain and for foot pain from plantar fasciitis. Physical therapists are highly trained and can be a great resource to help you through your recovery journey.
Actively Recovery With The Healing Sole
Dr. Meredith Warner’s Healing Sole flip flops incorporate a rocker bottom sole, raised arch support, compressible inner heel/non-compressible outer heel to engage your foot muscles to actively recover through gentle stretching while you walk. This patented design gently stretches the plantar fascia, Achilles, and calf to increase your range of motion, relieve pain. This shoe was designed with a goal to improve overall foot health and function.
