Below you’ll find information regarding the symptoms, treatment and prevention of Plantar Fasciitis, a condition involving pain in the heel and arch of the foot.

Problem:

An inflammation of the main ligament in the arch where it attaches to the heel bone and supports the foot.

Plantar Fasciitis CAUSES:

  1. Postural Abnormailities of the Feet, such as Low Arch (pronated) or High Arch Feet (Supinated).
  2. Tight muscles- This can be Pre-existing or a Compensation for the Low Arch or High Arch Feet.
  3. Poor shoe gear or having a habit of walking barefoot

Plantar Fasciitis SYMPTOMS:

  1. Pain first thing in the morning when getting out of bed and putting the foot down to the floor.  However, with weight bearing the pain diminishes.
  2. Pain after sitting for a prolonged period of time and getting up to walk or getting out of a car and starting to walk.
  3. Occasional burning, numbness, shooting or tingling into the heel.

Plantar Fasciitis SIGNS:

  1. Tight muscles in the lower extremity, especially the postural muscles such as the calf and hamstring.
  2. Rarely is swelling or discoloration seen in the heel or arch area.  There is tenderness along the arch ligament or directly on the bottom or inside of the heel.

Plantar Fasciitis TREATMENT:

  1. Proper shoe gear to support the arch and heel.
  2. Taping the foot to support it and give immediate relief.
  3. Custom molded prescription orthotic (shoe insert) to permanently support the foot and prevent recurrence of the problem
  4. Frequent stretching of the calf and hamstring muscles to improve overall flexibility.
  5. Splinting the foot at night to stretch the muscle in the back of the leg.
  6. Injectible anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the inflammation.
  7. Oral anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the inflammation
  8. Physical Therapy Anti-Inflammatory Modalities to reduce the inflammation
  9. Occasionally immobilization of the foot in a CAM walker or walking cast to completely rest the foot.

In the vast majority of cases (98%), the condition is successfully treated with conservative measures.  In the minority of cases that do not respond completely with conservative measures, there are modern minimally-invasive surgical procedures to address the condition.

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Best Regards,
We Treat Feet Podiatry Team