Plantar Fasciitis                          Treatment

What is plantar fasciitis and a heel spur?
Plantar fasciitis, sometimes referred to as a heel spur, is a common, painful foot condition. Plantar fasciitis refers to the symptoms of pain that people with this condition experience; a heel spur is a spur of bone that can form on the heel bone (calcaneus) as a result of this condition.

About 50% of patients with plantar fasciitis have an actual bony heel spur.

Who gets plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is most often seen in middle-aged men, but can be found in all age groups. The condition is diagnosed with the classic symptoms of pain well localized over an area of the bottom of the foot near the heel. Often the pain is most severe when you first stand on the foot in the morning. Pain often subsides quite quickly, but then returns after prolonged standing or walking. The condition is sometimes, but not always, associated with a rapid gain of weight.

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation caused by excessive stretching of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot. This fiber attaches at the heel and runs along the bottom of your feet to connect to the forefoot.

Excessive stretching or an overextension of this tissue causes plantar fasciitis which can ultimately lead to heel pain, arch pain or even heel spurs.

While there are multiple causes, over-pronation is the leading cause. Over pronation causes excessive pressure on the plantar fascia and often causes it to stretch away from the heel bone.

With plantar fasciitis, the pain is often at the bottom of the foot along the inside (arch) of the foot where the arch and heel connect. This pain will be worse in the morning since the tissue has had a chance to return to its rested state. The pain will becomes less as the day progresses as you walk about.

The first thing you have to do is determine what is causing the plantar fascia to be stretched. If over pronation is the cause, select shoes with posting and longitudinal arch support as an effective device to reduce the over-pronation and allow the condition to heal.

If you have usually high arches, which can also lead to plantar fasciitis, cushion the heel, absorb shock and wear proper footwear that will accommodate and comfort the foot.

Every time your foot strikes the ground, the plantar fascia is stretched. You can reduce the strain and stress on the plantar fascia by following these simple instructions: Avoid running on hard or uneven ground, lose any excess weight, and wear shoes and/ or orthodics that support your arch to prevent over-stretching of the plantar fascia.

Could something other than a heel spur cause this pain?
Plantar fasciitis can be confused with a condition called tarsal tunnel syndrome. In this condition, an important nerve in the foot, the tibial nerve, is trapped and pinched as it passes through the tarsal tunnel, a condition analogous to carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. This may cause symptoms similar to the pain of a heel spur.

Click here to read about treatment and some great exercises you can do to relieve the pain

 Back to the Common Foot Problems List