Ice for Plantar Fasciitis

EFFECTIVENESS: 5/5

Ice is commonly used for pain relief and its anti-inflammatory effects. One recent study demonstrated it is helpful in PF patients. If ice doesn’t help, try heat, though heat can sometimes aggravate swelling and inflammation.

Sources:

Petrofsky JS, Laymon MS, Alshammari F, Khowailed IA (2014) Evidence-Based use of Heat, Cold and NSAIDS for Plantar Fasciitis. Clin Res Foot Ankle 2:140. doi:10.4172/2329-910X.1000140

SELF CARE: 5/5

Using ice is simple to do: freeze a water bottle and roll it under the foot for a few minutes before going to bed and on rising from bed.

COST: 5/5

Ice therapy is perhaps the least expensive form of therapy available.

USEFULNESS (overall rating): 4/5

While ice therapy may be helpful for PF, it is not likely to resolve the problem as the sole (no pun intended) treatment. But it is definitely worth doing.

Using ice on the bottom of the foot may relieve pain and is simple and easy to do. Using an ice pack or rolling a frozen plastic water bottle under the foot for a couple minutes several times a day may help.