Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition that causes pain around the bottom of the heel or arch. Your plantar fascia is a thick ligament running across the bottom of your foot, from heel to toe. It supports the arch and helps absorb shock. Unfortunately, this puts it at risk for injury and inflammation. 

When your plantar fascia becomes inflamed, plantar fasciitis is the result. It’s very common, and the pain usually develops gradually the more you use your feet. 

Typically, the discomfort is at its worst in the morning when you’re getting out of bed or any time you stand up from a position you’ve been sitting in for a while, like at work or on long road trips.

Plantar fasciitis symptoms are pretty distinct, but other foot conditions can cause pain in the same region. 

To diagnose you, the team at Gentle Foot and Ankle Care evaluates the health of the nerves in the area by checking your reflexes. They also test your coordination, balance, and strength before possibly recommending an X-ray to rule out a fracture. 

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is most common in active individuals over age 40. Extra body weight is a major contributing factor, and so is spending a lot of time on your feet. Structural conditions like flat feet or high arches leave you at a higher risk for plantar fasciitis than the general population too. 

Overpronation means that your foot rolls inward as you walk, causing the outer edge of your heel to touch the ground first. 

Overpronation is the most common cause of plantar fasciitis because the movement puts excessive tension on the plantar fascia. It also puts you at risk for shin splints, ankle sprains and achilles tendinitis.

What are my treatment options for plantar fasciitis?

Gentle Foot and Ankle Care offers multiple conservative treatment options for plantar fasciitis, as well as some surgical treatments for the most serious cases. Conservative measures are always the first step in caring for plantar fasciitis, and a basic treatment plan might include:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Ice packs
• Stretching exercises
• Orthotic shoe inserts
• Physical therapy

Extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) is a more intensive treatment option. Pressurized air or electromagnetic pulses stimulate your plantar fascia during the treatment, causing microtrauma to the tissue. As a result, your body’s natural healing process takes place to alleviate some of the inflammation and repair the tissue damage. 

Learn more about plantar fasciitis and the latest treatments for pain on the bottom of your foot by calling Gentle Foot and Ankle Care or by requesting an appointment online right away.