Everything You Need to Know About Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot pain disorder that causes intense pain on the bottom of the foot. The most common symptoms are intense throbbing, stabbing, or aching pain in the heel area of your foot. It is a pervasive foot disorder that can be painful and inconvenient. The condition typically happens when you overuse your feet, causing damage to the plantar fascia ligament that connects your toes and heel bone. You can consult a Midtown East plantar fasciitis specialist to cure it as soon as possible.

Some Significant Causes of Plantar Fasciitis Are:

  1. Overuse of the foot.
  2. Injury to the Plantar fascia ligament – a tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. 
  3. Weak foot muscles. 
  4. Improper footwear. 
  5. Poor biomechanics(feet landing and midfoot position). 
  6. Previous injuries, such as ankle sprains and fractures, may trigger the condition even more than usual. 
  7. Repetitive stress injury.
  8. Structural problems of the foot.
  9. Improperly fitted shoes.
  10. Improper or excessive pronation of the foot.
  11. Not enough cushioning in the shoes. 
  12. Flat feet – more prevalent in flat-footed people, which cause you to have excess pressure on your feet(closer to the ground).
  13. Obesity can put extra pressure on your feet when you walk or run while the weight is on the heel area while overweight.

Treatments of Plantar Fasciitis

There are a variety of treatments, and some include: 

  1. Strengthening the muscles of the feet – This includes strengthening the calf, foot, and ankle muscles.
  1. Massage – For healing and reducing inflammation in the affected area.
  1. Avoid activities that aggravate pain- Like running on hard surfaces (concrete, asphalt). Try to get on softer surfaces such as grass or soft tiles(if possible) or soft grass stalks/moss.
  1. Shoe choice – Try to wear stability and support shoes for your heel and arch area. An orthotic may be helpful as well.
  1. Anti-inflammatory medication.
  1. Orthotics for the foot.
  1.  Foot acupuncture.
  1. Pain management with medication or topical pain relief such as ice, heat or light therapy, or anti-inflammatory pills.
  1. Footwear with extra cushioning such as shock-absorbing material. 
  1. Avoidance of excessive standing on hard surfaces.

If you encounter plantar fasciitis symptoms, talk to your doctor about what steps they recommend and how you can prevent future occurrences of this problem.