Plantar Fasciitis Treatment | Podiatrist, Foot Doctor Plano, TX 75093

Plantar fasciitis affects the plantar regions of the foot, namely the heel, arch, and midfoot. When too much stress is put on the plantar fascia, or the connective tissue that stretches from the heel to the ball of your foot, inflammation, overtightening, and tearing may arise. This can cause foot pain. Because of plantar fasciitis, you may experience tearing with the first steps you take in the morning each day.

A certain trigger that may cause stress to the plantar fascia includes poor arch support, which is brought upon by frequently walking barefoot or wearing shoes with improper arch support. Other causes include obesity or a sudden increase in weight, increased physical activity, weak foot and ankle muscles, tight calf muscles, and arthritis.

If you’re feeling pain after sitting, walking, or standing for a long period of time, as well as when you first step out of bed or climb stairs, you may be showing signs of plantar fasciitis. To know for sure what’s causing you pain, it’s best that you get an x-ray taken of your foot.

Because plantar fasciitis is known to worsen over time, it’s recommended that you meet with a podiatrist as soon as possible for a proper diagnosis and advised treatment plan.

Plantar Fasciitis (Faq)

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot injury in which the plantar fascia, a ligament that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes, becomes inflamed. The inflammation is a natural, but often painful, response to small tears along the plantar fascia.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The hallmark symptoms of plantar fasciitis is heel pain. The pain may be localized to the bottom of the heel, or it may affect the entire heel and even the arch of the foot. The pain may be dull, sharp, burning, or aching. It is usually at its worst upon first arising in the morning or when taking your first few steps after a long rest. Pain usually goes away during physical activity, but comes back afterwards. The heel may also be swollen and stiff, and the Achilles tendon may feel tight. Left untreated, plantar fasciitis symptoms can become chronic.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is usually caused by repetitive overuse from running or other sports activities, or from wearing shoes that do not fit properly. People who have flat feet or high arches, are overweight or obese, work or exercise on hard surfaces, or stand for prolonged periods of time are at an increased risk of sustaining this injury.

How do you treat plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is initially treated through conservative measures. These may include resting and icing the affected foot, doing stretching exercises, wearing supportive shoes or orthotics, and taking over the counter medications to ease pain. If these treatments fail, the next steps may include padding, taping, or strapping the affected foot to support it and reduce strain on the plantar fascia, corticosteroid injections into the foot to relieve pain, or immobilizing the foot while it heals. In a small percentage of people, plantar fasciitis does not respond to conservative treatments and requires surgical intervention.

Can you still exercise if you have plantar fasciitis?

You can still exercise if you have plantar fasciitis. In fact, exercise is encouraged. However, you should choose activities that don’t strain the plantar fascia. These may include low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, or yoga, and special foot stretches to strengthen your plantar fascia and aid your recovery.

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