Plantar Fasciitis, also known as heel pain syndrome, can cause mild, moderate and even severe pain of the heel and/or the arch of the foot. The plantar fascia is band of tissue that starts at the heel and blends into the tissues around the ball of the foot. When there is excess tension around the plantar fascia, it may get inflamed and irritated.
Signs and Symptoms- Often with plantar fasciitis, there is a gradual increase in pain at the heel and sometimes into the inside arch of the foot. The pain will be worse first thing in the morning when getting out of bed and then after resting during the day. Sometimes the pain can continue all of the time. It may be in one or both feet. If an x-ray is taken, there may be a spur on the heel bone. Plantar fasciitis can cause significant pain.
Treatment- Since plantar fasciitis can be caused by many factors all together, there are many things that should be done to treat it and since it often takes a long time to seek treatment, it may take sometime to cure. See your doctor for a proper diagnosis and to rule out other possible underlying medical conditions.
- Proper footwear - A good supportive pair of running shoes or molded sandals should be worn at all times - NO BAREFOOT
- Biomechanical assessment to see if foot orthoses (or orthotics) are necessary
- Roll your foot over a frozen bottle of water to ice the area (make sure to protect the skin from frostbite and do not do this if you have loss of sensation in the feet)
- Daily exercises to stretch the calf muscle - must be gentle and slow - hold 30-60 seconds several times a day
- Sometimes your doctor will prescribe medication
- A night-splint will hold the foot into a position to stretch out the Achilles tendon
- Physiotherapy may be necessary for ultrasound, proper stretching and other modalities
Since plantar fasciitis is affected by so many factors and often develops over time, many factors and some time are involved in resolving it. See your doctor and follow the instructions carefully!
