Plantar Fasciitis - A Pain in the Heel

4/5/2018

If your first few steps out of bed in the morning cause a stabbing pain in the heel of your foot, it’s very likely you are suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis involves the inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot, and connects your heel bone to your toes. The pain is typically worse first thing in the morning or after other long periods of physical inactivity.

Plantar fasciitis is quite common, with an estimated 10% of Americans experiencing the condition at some point in their lifetime. It is most common in adults between the ages of 40 and 60. Risk factors that increase your likelihood of a plantar fasciitis diagnosis are:

• Being female
• Running, as a sport or hobby
• Being overweight
• Having a job that requires a lot of walking or standing on hard surfaces

The condition typically starts gradually, with the sensation of mild pain at the heel bone, often referred to as a stone bruise. The patient is more likely to feel the pain after, as opposed to during, physical exercise.

“Plantar fasciitis is a fairly common and treatable over use injury,” said John Powers, DPM, a podiatrist with Northwest Allied Foot & Ankle. “But left untreated, it can become a chronic condition that prevents you from maintaining your activity level. It can also cause knee, hip and back problems, because plantar fasciitis can change the way you walk.”

Under normal circumstances, your plantar fascia acts as a shock-absorbing bowstring, supporting the arch in your foot. Repetitive or chronic tension and stress on that bowstring can create small tears in the fascia and a resulting inflammation, though in many cases the cause of plantar fasciitis isn’t clear.

Footwear with proper arch and heel support is the best way to try and prevent foot pain and injuries, but if you find yourself with a diagnosis or suspected case of plantar fasciitis, there are some steps you can take at home.

“First, consider keeping weight off your foot until the initial inflammation subsides and applying ice to the painful area in 20 minute intervals,” said Timothy Short, DPM, a Northwest Allied Foot & Ankle podiatrist. “Stretching exercises for your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia are by far the best treatments to address the injury and prevent reoccurrence. Our office can help develop a program you can follow at home, and help determine when it’s appropriate for you to return to your regular activity level.”

Most importantly, don’t write off foot pain as something you just have to live with. Talk with your primary care physician about any issues that send you to the medicine cabinet regularly for managing pain, or that restrict your level of movement and quality of life.

For more information about podiatry, or to request an appointment, visit MyTucsonDoc.com.

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