Plantar Fasciitis

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a thick, fibrous connective tissue that runs from the heel bone to the ball of the foot. This strong, tight ligament helps maintain the arch of the foot during movement. It also contributes to the body’s gait and distribution of weight.

If the plantar fascia is overused or injured, it can become inflamed and quickly turn into an injury known as plantar fasciitis. This condition is often described as a stabbing or burning sensation in the heel or bottom of your foot.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

While pain can be felt along the foot’s arch and heel, this condition is often caused by instability in the ankle or hip. When these joints are weak, it puts unnecessary stress on the feet, leading to inflammation and foot pain.

Below are a few common risk factors associated with plantar fasciitis:

• Activities that place stress on the feet and heels, such as running or dancing.
• Shoes that provide inadequate support.
• Increased exercise intensity or volume.
• Active jobs that require hours of walking or standing on hard surfaces.

People who are overweight, pregnant, or over the age of 40 are also at a higher risk of developing plantar fasciitis. Even though these demographics may indicate an increased risk, this injury can still impact people of every age and lifestyle.

How is Plantar Fasciitis treated?

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that can keep you from doing the things you love. Leaving this condition alone to “sort itself out” will likely result in chronic heel pain. It’s also common to develop knee, hip, and back problems over time. The best thing to do if you think you have plantar fasciitis is to get diagnosed and treated quickly. Fortunately, there are many different treatment methods that can help relieve plantar fasciitis pain.

Some of the most common methods used to treat plantar fasciitis pain include:

• Medication to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
• Night splints to stretch your feet while you sleep
• Orthotics or arch-supporting sole inserts
• Injections
• Surgery

Your doctor may also suggest physical therapy to stretch and strengthen your feet while improving your mobility over time.