Plantar Fasciitis | The Gilbert Clinic

 

What Is It?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves pain and inflammation of a thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes.

Plantar fasciitis is particularly common in runners. In addition, people who are overweight and those who wear shoes with inadequate support are at risk of plantar fasciitis.

Symptoms

Plantar fasciitis typically causes a stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot near the heel. The pain is usually worst with the first few steps after awakening, although it can also be triggered by long periods of standing or getting up from a seated position.

plantarfasciitis-spurCauses

Under normal circumstances, your plantar fascia acts like a shock-absorbing bowstring, supporting the arch in your foot. If tension on that bowstring becomes too great, it can create small tears in the fascia. Repetitive stretching and tearing can cause the fascia to become irritated or inflamed.

Who’s at Risk? 

Factors that may increase your risk of developing plantar fasciitis include:

  • Age. Plantar fasciitis is most common between the ages of 40 and 60.
  • Certain types of exercise. Activities that place a lot of stress on your heel and attached tissue — such as long-distance running, ballet dancing and dance aerobics — can contribute to an earlier onset of plantar fasciitis.
  • Faulty foot mechanics. Being flat-footed, having a high arch or even having an abnormal pattern of walking can adversely affect the way weight is distributed when you’re standing and put added stress on the plantar fascia.
  • Obesity. Excess pounds put extra stress on your plantar fascia. To shed the flabs, exercise is the only hope one can resort to.
  • Occupations that keep you on your feet. Factory workers, teachers and others who spend most of their work hours walking or standing on hard surfaces can damage their plantar fascia.

Complications

Ignoring plantar fasciitis may result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. If you change the way you walk to minimize plantar fasciitis pain, you might also develop foot, knee, hip or back problems.

Tests

During the physical exam, your doctor checks for points of tenderness in your foot. The location of your pain can help determine its cause.

Treatment

Most people who have plantar fasciitis recover with conservative treatments in just a few months.

Stretching and strengthening exercises or use of specialized therapies may provide symptom relief. These include:

  • Manipulation. Gentle manipulation of the ankle and foot joints help restore proper motion and alignment.
  • Laser Therapy. Laser Therapy can be beneficial in both acute and chronic conditions.
  • Massage therapy. Our therapists can instruct you in a series of exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and to strengthen lower leg muscles, which stabilize your ankle and heel.
  • Kinesio Taping. Helps to support the muscles and tendons of the foot promoting healing of the inflamed tissues.
  • Orthotics. Custom fit flexible orthotics may help support your feet allowing for better alignment.

If you or someone you know suffers from this Contact us or give us a call! We can help!