Plantar Fasciitis Q & A
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of tissues that connect your heel bone to your toes. This condition causes stabbing heel pain, especially when you walk after waking up in the morning or sitting for awhile.
Certain populations seem to suffer the effects of plantar fasciitis more often than others:
Runners
People who are overweight
Those who wear ill-supporting shoes
Anyone who’s flat-footed or has high arches
People who work on their feet
What causes plantar fasciitis?
In some cases, the cause of your symptoms is unclear. Other times, it’s possible to pinpoint the source of tension and stress that led to plantar fasciitis.
Usually, the plantar fascia acts as a shock absorber and supports the arch. When the plantar fascia is under substantial stress, it causes little tears in the tissue. As the pressure continues, those tears cause inflammation and contribute to foot pain.
How can I relieve foot pain at home?
When you start to feel the symptoms of plantar fasciitis approaching, you can take many proactive steps to help your foot heal and relieve the pain.
Rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain relievers are great first lines of self-treatment. Take a break from the activities that aggravate your foot pain and use ice and pain relievers to decrease inflammation.
You should also pay attention to the type of shoes you wear because high heels and flat shoes often perpetuate foot pain. Supportive, heel-less shoes are the most forgiving for your foot.
In the long run, you should strive to maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts extra pressure on the plantar fascia. Those “shock absorbers” aren’t meant to absorb extra pressure.
Which medical treatment options are available?
If your plantar fasciitis still causes discomfort after you try the above at-home regimen, it’s time to see your podiatrist. Podiatrists starts with conservative treatments and progresses from there. Here are some medical interventions for plantar fasciitis:
Physical therapies to help stretch and strengthen the foot
Night splints to stretch your foot while you’re sleeping
Orthotics to provide arch support and distribute your weight
Steroid injections to temporarily relieve pain
Surgery to detach the plantar fascia
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy to stimulate healing
If your plantar fasciitis leaves you uncomfortable, contact Podiatrists over the phone or online.