All About Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition affecting millions worldwide. It involves inflammation in the plantar fascia in the foot and is the most common cause of heel pain. Some common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include stiffness, heel pain, swelling around the heel, and pain in the arch of the foot. But what causes plantar fasciitis, how does it feel, what are the risk factors of plantar fasciitis and how do you treat the condition? Let’s answer these questions in this blog that explores various aspects of plantar fasciitis.
About Plantar Fasciitis
As mentioned above, plantar fasciitis involves the inflammation of plantar fascia, which is a tough and fibrous band of tissue running along the foot’s sole. The plantar fascia attaches to the toe base and heel bone. It provides to the arch of the foot and plays a vital role in helping an individual walk normally.
The plantar fascia gets stressed when you put weight on the foot. Besides, it also undergoes stress when you push off the ball of the foot and toes. These actions happen during regular running or walking. Furthermore, overusing the feet or with time, the elasticity and resilience of the fascia reduces and it confronts irritation with daily actions.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
While we’ve already seen the exact cause of plantar fasciitis, let’s look at some factors that can lead to this condition.
- Being on feet for long hours
- Exercising on a hard surface
- Exercising without warming up or stretching
- Standing or walking barefoot while at home
- Wearing improper shoes
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
Some symptoms of plantar fasciitis include the following.
- Heel pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling around the heel
- Sharp pain while using the affected foot or putting pressure on the heel
- Pain when a person stands up after remaining seated or sleeping for a while
- Continuous dull ache
Risk Factors of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is common in people with the below risk factors.
- People who run long distances or perform aerobic dances
- People between the age of 40 and 60
- Excess weight (obesity) can also contribute to plantar fasciitis
- People like factory workers, teachers, etc., whose work involves walking a lot
- Flat feet or high arch or unusual walking pattern
Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
Doctors would diagnose plantar fasciitis through x-rays, MRI or an ultrasound test and may recommend the following treatment, depending on your condition.
- Rest for a week or so from the activity triggering the condition
- Wearing supportive, sturdy and well-cushioned shoes
- Wearing a walking boot for a few weeks to keep the foot in place
- Adding inserts into the shoes to provide extra arch support
- Regular stretching and massaging
- Undergoing platelet rich plasma (PRP) to heal and repair the injury
- Percutaneous needle tenotomy
- Extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT) – a form of shockwave therapy
In rare cases, doctors may prescribe surgery. A couple of surgical options include gastrocnemius recession (lengthening the calf muscle to reduce pressure on plantar fascia) or plantar fascial release (involving making small incisions in the plantar fascia to release some additional tension).
Prevention of Plantar Fasciitis
Fortunately, you can prevent plantar fasciitis. Here are some techniques.
- Avoid overusing the feet
- Wearing supportive shoes
- Stretching before and after exercise
- Giving feet enough rest
- Avoiding walking barefoot on hard surfaces
So, the above were some generic insights about plantar fasciitis. If you are looking for some more information about plantar fasciitis specific to your case, visit Ranka Hospital. Our doctors will provide comprehensive consultation, answer your questions and treat plantar fasciitis appropriately. Call us at +91 – 20 – 24261530 to book an appointment.
