Plantar Fasciitis
Overview
Plantar fasciitis is a very common foot complaint. It can be very debilitating, but in most cases can be resolved fairly easily. Success usually depends on a patient’s willingness and consistency with the treatment protocol.
Causes
Common causes include:
- Tight calf muscle
- Poor shoe gear
- Becoming active after a period of inactivity
- New job, shoe gear or activity (hobby)
Symptoms
Typical symptoms include pain to the heel area. Some people describe this as feeling like their heel is bruised. Pain is usually most severe in the morning when getting out of bed or after getting up from sitting down for a few minutes. Pain is relieved after walking for a few minutes, but after a few hours or by the end of the day the heel hurts all the time.
You should see a doctor if:
- Pain is getting worse
- An injury accompanied the pain
- You notice bruising or swelling
- Other areas of the foot are beginning to hurt
Treatments
- Stretch, stretch, stretch! This is where people go wrong. Proper and adequate stretching is the key to getting rid of plantar fasciitis. Most people that don’t improve are not stretching adequately or as often as they should.
- Appropriate shoe gear
- Shoe inserts
- Icing
- Anti-inflammatories