Foot or Heel Pain? It Might Be Plantar Fasciitis

Walking and hiking are excellent and safe ways to get your exercise during these strange quarantine times in which we live. However, if you’ve been walking more lately, it is possible that you are experiencing new pains in your feet that you may not have dealt with before. One of the most common causes of foot pain is plantar fasciitis.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis involves inflammation of the thick band of tissue (plantar fascia) that stretches along the bottom of your foot and connects your toes to your heel bone. It usually manifests as a sharp pain near the heel that most often occurs during your very first steps out of bed in the morning. The pain usually decreases somewhat after you get up and move for a while. However, it is likely to return again after several hours of movement.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Increased stress and tension on your plantar fascia can cause small tears to occur. Continued tearing of your plantar fascia can cause it to become inflamed, leading to plantar fasciitis.

Your age can be a risk factor for developing plantar fasciitis – the condition is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60. You’re also more likely to develop it if you are obese, or have flat feet.

What Is the Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis?

Your doctor will usually be able to diagnose your plantar fasciitis with a simple physical examination – imaging tests are rarely needed. If you are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, you’ll have several options for treatment:

Physical Therapy – a physical therapist can teach you a series of exercises to strengthen your plantar fascia and Achilles tendon.

Night Splints – your doctor may also recommend wearing a splint while you sleep. This splint will hold your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in a stretched position overnight, helping to decrease swelling and increase mobility.

Injections – your doctor may administer steroid shots in order to provide temporary pain relief. Your doctor might also recommend platelet-rich plasma injections to promote tissue healing.

Are you suffering from pain and inflammation in your plantar fascia? Reach out to Ogden Clinic podiatrists and schedule a plantar fasciitis consultation.