What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is the breakdown or degeneration of plantar fascia along the bottom of the foot. Plantar fascia is a thick, tendon-like tissue responsible for connecting the toes to the heel bone and forming a normal arch in the foot.
Patients with plantar fasciitis experience swelling and inflammation, leading to the inability to walk or bear weight if left untreated. Over-stretching of the plantar fascia leads to tiny small tears in the fibers, leading to pain as a major symptom of plantar fasciitis.
What Are the Causes of Plantar Fasciitis?
Causes of plantar fasciitis include:
- foot arch disorders such as high arches or flat feet
- poor footwear without proper arch support
- over-stretching of the plantar fascia due to high impact activities
- walking or running on uneven surfaces
- tight Achilles tendon
- aging—older patients are more likely to have loser, less elastic plantar fascia
- diabetes
What Are Some of the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?
Symptoms of plantar fasciitis can occur acutely or chronically. Common symptoms include:
- severe heel pain in the morning—called first-step pain
- tenderness on the bottom of the feet
- presence of heel spurs—bony projections from the heel bone
- stiffness in the bottom of the heel
- pain in the bottom of the foot
What to Expect During Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis at the Podiatrist
A physical exam, as well as an evaluation of your complete medical history and lifestyle, is key for your podiatrist to diagnose plantar fasciitis. Also common is a gait test to evaluate your walk and determine if you are flat-footed—rigid or flexible flat feet—or experiencing tightness in your Achilles tendon.
Treatment for plantar fasciitis depends on if it's acute or chronic and can include:
- NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation
- splints at night to stretch the feet
- rest
- custom-fitted orthotics and insoles
- cortisone shots to the heel
- physical therapy
- taping the bottom of the foot with plantar fasciitis
- avoid high impact activities
- surgery—only for chronic conditions that do not respond to other nonsurgical forms of treatment