Tiger Woods announced on Sunday that he was withdrawing from the Masters tournament in Augusta, Ga., due to reaggravating his plantar fasciitis. Woods performed well through the first two rounds of the tournament— for the 23rd consecutive time, tying the record for the most made cuts of all time. But unfortunately, he struggled through his third round of play and appeared to be limping. He told reporters at the beginning of the tournament that he was in “constant” pain.
Woods’ withdrawal from the tournament comes two years after he returned to the sport in 2021 following a serious car accident earlier that year. The crash had left him with a compound fracture in one leg and other injuries.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of pain on the bottom of the heel. Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot, becomes irritated and inflamed. The plantar fascia is designed to absorb the high stresses and strains we place on our feet when walking, running, and doing other activities like playing sports. But, sometimes, too much pressure damages or tears the tissues. The body’s natural response to injury is inflammation, which results in heel pain and stiffness of plantar fasciitis.
The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include pain on the bottom of the foot near the heel, greater pain after (not during) exercise or activity, and pain with the first few steps after getting out of bed in the morning, or after a long period of rest, this pain improves after a few minutes of walking
TREATMENT FOR PLANTAR FASCIITIS INCLUDES:
Rest: Decreasing or stopping the activities that make the pain worse is the first step in reducing the pain. You may need to stop high-impact activity or use a walking boot or crutches for a short period of time
Stretching: Plantar fasciitis is aggravated by tight muscles in your feet and calves. Stretching your calves and plantar fascia is the most effective way to relieve the pain that comes with this condition
Ice: Rolling your foot over a cold water bottle or ice for 20 minutes is effective. This can be done 3 to 4 times a day.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen reduce pain and inflammation.
Physical therapy: Your doctor may suggest that you work with a physical therapist on an exercise program that focuses on stretching your calf muscles and plantar fascia
Supportive shoes and orthotics: Shoes with thick soles and a supportive arch are best. Pre-made or custom orthotics (shoe inserts) are also helpful.
Avoid unsupportive and worn-out shoes: Make sure to replace your old athletic shoes before they wear out and no longer support your feet. Also, it is important to rotate shoes.
We wish Tiger Woods a speedy recovery!
