Plantar Fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a painful heel condition caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that attaches at the heel and toe and supports your arch. If you overstress the plantar fascia, the fibers become irritated, resulting in inflammation and pain.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis develops due to overstressing of the plantar fascia, which can arise for a number of possible reasons, including:

• Being overweight
• Wearing unsupportive shoes
• Overdoing strenuous physical activity
• Being on your feet all day

Foot structure plays an important role, so if you have flat feet or high arches, you’re more likely to develop plantar fasciitis.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The clearest symptom of plantar fasciitis is feeling pain in the bottom of your heel, which is commonly at its worst in the morning. The pain eases after a few minutes of walking, returning after rest and then becoming even worse if you continue walking. You may find that the pain becomes so intense that it’s a struggle to bear weight on the affected heel.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

Because it presents with such clear symptoms, plantar fasciitis is a reasonably easy condition to diagnose. Your podiatrist examines your foot, goes through your medical history, and discusses your symptoms with you, then orders X-rays to confirm the diagnosis.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

In the initial stages, plantar fasciitis may respond well to home treatment. Recommended therapies to try include:

• Resting your heel as much as possible
• Stretching your calf muscles with leg exercises
• Applying cooling gel or ice packs
• Wearing shoes with slightly raised heels and good arch support
• Taking anti-inflammatory medication or using a topical anti-inflammatory
• Avoiding going barefoot

If these home treatments aren’t effective in reducing the plantar fasciitis pain, schedule an appointment at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers for assessment. The sooner you seek professional treatment, the more likely you are to recover fully, so don’t delay if the pain doesn’t improve.

What can a podiatrist do for plantar fasciitis?

Your podiatrist is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the foot and ankle. There is a range of possible treatments they can use to relieve your pain and heal the plantar fascia, such as:

• Strapping or taping your foot to support the plantar fascia and reduce strain
• Fitting your shoes with pads or custom orthotics
• Administering corticosteroid injections
• Using a removable cast
• Providing you with a splint to wear at night
• Showing you foot exercises to aid recovery

For more advanced treatment for your plantar fasciitis, your specialist may recommend EPAT shockwave therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, or stem cell injections.

Using a combination of these approaches resolves the pain of plantar fasciitis for most people, but if you find that you’re still in pain, your podiatrist can discuss surgical options with you.

The team at Arlington/Mansfield Foot & Ankle Centers has many years of experience in successfully treating patients with plantar fasciitis. If heel pain is becoming an everyday hindrance, call the practice today or book an appointment online.