South Pointe Healthcare

Plantar Fasciitis

It’s important to get properly diagnosed and treated for plantar fasciitis. If you ignore plantar fasciitis, it can cause chronic, on-going pain in your foot that can hinder your daily activities. It may also lead to damaging the structure of the foot.

Plantar Fasciitis​

It’s important to get properly diagnosed and treated for plantar fasciitis. If you ignore plantar fasciitis, it can cause chronic, on-going pain in your foot that can hinder your daily activities. It may also lead to damaging the structure of the foot.

What is Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis (pronounced fashee-EYE-tiss) is the most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Approximately 2 million patients are treated for this condition every year.

Plantar fasciitis is when the strong band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot is irritated and inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. You can get plantar fasciitis by a specific activity, such as running, dancing, exercising, or hiking. However, patients can also get plantar fasciitis by standing for long durations, wearing high heels, being overweight, or simply walking incorrectly.

Symptoms

The main symptom is foot pain that can feel intense. It can feel like a deep bruise on the bottom of your foot.

Your foot pain can be worse in the morning, after increased activity, or at the end of your day. 

The classic sign of plantar fasciitis is that the pain occurs with the first few steps in the morning, but not every patient will have this symptom, according to American Family Physician

You may feel foot pain at the start of an activity that reduces as you warm up. 

The foot pain can also occur with prolonged standing and is sometimes accompanied by stiffness. In more severe cases, the pain will also worsen toward the end of the day.

Causes

Plantar fasciitis doesn’t need to be caused by one event. This foot pain can develop without a specific reason.

Some risk factors can make a patient more prone to the condition, including:

  • New activity
  • Increased activity
  • Impact activities, including running, hiking, jumping, and various high-impact sports
  • Tight calf muscles that can make it challenging to flex your foot and bring toes up toward the shin
  • Overweight or obese
  • Frequent wearing of high-heeled shoes or inadequate footwear
  • Very high arch in your foot
  • Flat-footed 
  • Abnormal pattern of walking
 

Jobs where you are on your feet all day, such as retail workers, teachers, and factory workers, may also have an increased risk. 

Plantar fasciitis is also more common in older people. This is because as we age, the plantar fascia loses its elasticity and then it becomes more vulnerable to injury.

Treatmemt

The first step to treating plantar fasciitis and foot pain is to properly diagnose the condition with your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare professional may want to rule out other possibly injuries or conditions, too.

Your provider can guide you on specific exercises and stretches to help heal plantar fasciitis and reduce your foot pain. Your healthcare provider can also recommend ways to reduce any current pain and inflammation, exercises to strengthen your foot, and how to avoid and prevent future injury. 

It may be recommended that you temporarily stop or limit specific activities for a certain amount of time. 

If you are suffering from foot pain and may have plantar fasciitis, it’s important to see a healthcare provider for proper diagnosing and treatment. Ignoring plantar fasciitis can result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities, according to Mayo Clinic

Fortunately, it is not difficult to diagnose and treat. 

The healthcare providers at South Pointe Healthcare can help diagnose, treat, and prevent plantar fasciitis and foot pain.

Contact Info

Phone

(303) 665-8444

Fax

(303) 665-8448

Address

150 Old Laramie Trail E #120

Lafayette, CO 80026

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