| April 6, 2026 |
NatNews |
ISSUE 212 |
DON'T LET PLANTAR FASCIITIS PLAGUE YOUR LIFE
|
It is not completely uncommon for athletes, particularly runners, at some point in their lives to experience an aggravating and often rather painful condition that seems odd both to spell and say: plantar fasciitis. Commonly resulting in heel pain that can sometimes feel like one is being stabbed on the bottom of his or her foot, plantar fasciitis is also not always easily understood by those suffering from it, and there are several factors (e.g., types of shoes, foot structure, overuse, and various walking surfaces) that can contribute to its plague upon a person’s once undisturbed feet. Katie Overton, Dallas-based doctor of physical therapy, said plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the large tissue covering the bottom of the foot holding all of the muscles in place, and noted that there are also other key lifestyle and body components that can result in this undesired condition. “Improper load management, improper shoes (usually poor-fitting shoes), repetitive stress on the feet (think running a marathon when you’ve only walked a few blocks leading up to it), and tight muscles and tendons surrounding the foot and ankle (especially tight Achilles tendons) can lead to plantar fasciitis,” she said. While sometimes it does seem as if the pain will never subside, it turns out that not all hope is lost. Overton said the most effective way to treat plantar fasciitis is to improve load management of the affected foot. “This means properly stretching the calf muscles, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia while also loading the foot with proper foot exercises,” she said. At her practice, Overton offers myofascial release therapy, a hands-on massage technique that (as the name implies) releases tightness and pain in one’s fascial tissues. In addition to treatments, Overton said it is also essential for a person to wear proper shoes with enough support. “Working with a shoe expert is incredibly helpful for this,” she said. “I usually send my patients to Luke’s Locker or The Good Feet Store to find the best shoes for their foot types. If the foot is incredibly inflamed, decreasing load on the foot is important. I recommend my patients who love running and walking do something like cycling for a couple of weeks to continue with their cardiovascular conditioning but decrease the high-impact load on the feet.” |
For those who have never experienced plantar fasciitis or have and never want to again, there are proactive measures individuals can take. Overton said the best way to prevent the irritating condition is to work on proper foot loading and mobility. “Most people don’t think about stretching their feet, but it is incredibly important,” she said. “I teach my patients about ‘yogi toes’ and trying to gain better control of how the foot moves both when standing on it and not. Working on strengthening the little muscles in the foot also helps to support the joints better.” While many individuals walk on their feet on a daily basis and never reflect on just how important they are, Overton provided the reminder that people’s feet are “incredibly intricate,” as these body parts include four layers of muscles connecting all of the joints together. “These little muscles need to be strong to help support the foot, which will decrease reliance on the plantar fascia to hold everything together,” she said. “My favorite exercises are towel scrunches, arch lifts, and toe-separation exercises for improving strength and control of the foot.” Because of how much fascia humans have within them, Overton said it is absolutely important for the entire body to experience myofascial release therapy. “Fascia is everywhere in the body, connecting muscles, blood vessels, nerves, etc., and the spiderweb network of fascia can get really tight,” she said. “Tension in one part of fascia can lead to issues elsewhere. The craziest case I’ve seen was someone’s upper neck causing tension in the lower hip because of the fascial connections—totally wild! So, performing fascial release all over the body helps the body feel like it can move better without restrictions.” |
DID YOU KNOW?
|
Despite what Old MacDonald might lead you to believe, not all ducks quack—the quacking sound associated with ducks is that of the female mallard (the male mallard does not quack). |
THERE'S PROBABLY AN EMOJI FOR HOW YOU'RE FEELING RIGHT NOW
|
Don’t be too offended if someone doesn’t answer your call but replies to a text rather quickly—some people are simply more comfortable being able to think through their words and see what they are saying. Texting has become a common form of communication, with many individuals (including more than 75 percent of millennials) preferring texting over talking on the phone. In America, more than 6 billion texts are sent each day, and more than 25 billion are sent every day on a global scale. But sometimes words alone aren’t enough, and emojis are necessary to further convey one’s feelings and emotions, whether they are used in a more playful sense or serious tone. Some people truly appreciate emojis and use them as often as possible, while others are more careful or apathetic about incorporating the tiny images into their messages. Hawaii resident Tara Janke is an avid fan of emojis and said she adds them into her text messages quite frequently. “I mainly use them to help portray tone, which can be hard to do in texts,” she said. “Emojis help with that—and they are fun.” For some individuals, emoji use is contingent upon the people with whom they are texting or the context of the conversation. Janke said this is somewhat true for her to an extent but not completely. “I mostly don’t care who it is because it’s consistent with me and how I text,” she said. “And the thing with emojis is that there is one for every topic, so I don’t think I use them less or more depending on the topic.” Like Janke, Dallas-area resident Stephanie Hone said she uses emojis while texting all of the time, noting that she likely does use them more often in conversations with closer friends and family members. “They make things feel happier or softer,” she said. “They help with tone, I guess. If you’re not speaking and someone can’t hear your voice, sometimes the emoji helps carry that forward.” Not everyone is all for emojis all of the time, though. Dallas resident Pete Krogulski said he adds emojis in his messages sometimes, though that use certainly depends upon the individuals on the receiving end of his texts. “In a professional setting, no emojis, unless I know the audience well enough on the group text chain,” he said. “Communicating with friends or in a non-professional setting, then yes, to express feelings and emotions and sometimes to save time, as a picture or emoji is worth a thousand words.” Krogulski said when opting whether or not to include emojis, it’s important to understand and have a feel for how the recipient will receive them, especially within the context of whatever topic is being discussed at the time. “If the interaction is professional or more formal, then I will minimize or not use emojis to ensure that the tone remains professional and/or formal,” he said. “You don’t want to send the wrong message or signals by using an emoji that may have different meanings.”
|
And there are several emojis that can be interpreted differently or can convey different meanings to different people in various situations. This is no surprise to Janke, though. “That goes with anything, especially texting or any form of written communication,” she said. Krogulski acknowledged that he is also highly aware of how easily emojis can be misunderstood from what they were originally created to mean. “While the emoji is intended to convey emotion, the same emoji can be interpreted differently—either positively or negatively—depending on the topic, user’s age, platform, and culture,” he said. “Emojis meant to be humorous may come across as showing a lack of respect.” Some individuals, though, are not too concerned about emojis being taken in the wrong way by those on the receiving end of texts. Hone said because she is a millennial, it’s not likely that she doesn’t use emojis correctly often. “If you’re misusing them, you’re a rookie,” she said. “I think our generation is the emoji. I mean, the 90s smiley face? Come on—we are the emojis.” Communication is quite an important factor in life, particularly in any kind of relationship, and texting is a popularly used means in which people communicate with one another. Krogulski said whether or not emojis enhance or worsen communication depends on what the texter is trying to convey and the mood or context that individual wants the recipient to relate to or feel. “I’m a visual communicator, a.k.a. ‘storyteller’ data person, and so, as I stated earlier, I think a picture or emoji is worth a thousand words,” he said. “You need to be sensitive and careful on which emojis to use and when they are appropriate to use. Using or sending the wrong emoji(s) can send the wrong message to the receiver(s) on the other end of the conversation. But in general, emojis are seen as an alternative tool of expression that can enhance informal communication by way of speed and tone.” Hone, however, has found emojis to be an effective way to communicate better with others, as they help people further understand how she is feeling or wants the other person to feel at the time of sending the message. “I love them,” she said. “If something’s funny, I use the crying-laughing face; if I feel silly or crazy, it might be the zany face or upside-down smiley; if I want you to feel a little extra love, I can go with the pink double-heart emoji or the simple red heart. Also, listen, I know there are the naughty emojis, too, but I don’t need to use those. For those who do, more power to you. I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones I don’t really know about—lolz.” WEEKLY PHOTO OP     .jpg)  NatNews staff and some dear readers recently gathered together for basketball, hockey, and Easter festivities |
| Upcoming Events |
Monday, April 6: Rangers vs. Mariners at Globe Life Field |