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Planter Fasciitis
What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the bottom of the foot between the ball of the foot and the heel.
How does it occur? There are several possible causes of plantar fasciitis, including increased walking, standing and running, wearing high heels, gaining weight and more. The fascia, a tough, tendonlike tissue in the bottom of the foot, can become shorter. Pain occurs when the shortened fascia stretches. Runners may get plantar fasciitis when they change their workout and increase their mileage or frequency of workouts. It can also occur with a change in exercise surface or terrain, or if one’s shoes are worn out and don't provide enough cushion for the heels. Normally there is a pad of fatty tissue under the heel bone. Thus, weight gain might break down this fat pad and cause heel pain as well. In some cases the fascia glides over the heel bone, cuasing a formation of bony material known as a “spur”.
What are the symptoms? The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain at walk, during standing and possibly even when resting. This pain typically occurs first thing in the morning. The pain usually lessens with more walking, but it may return after periods of rest.
How is it treated? As in any injury, the immediate treatment is to minimize and limit the amount of inflammation by R.I.C.E (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) and anti-inflammatory drugs. Depending on the severity of the injury, hot & cold treatments, Ultrasound and electrotherapy are proven methods to speed recovery. The later stages will involve physical therapy to strengthen, restore full range of motion and elasticity of the damaged tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. Cushioning the foot by wearing athletic shoes or heel cushions can also be used. A splint may be fitted to the calf of the leg and foot, to be worn at night in order to keep the foot stretched during sleep. Another possible treatment is injection of cortisone in the heel. Surgery is rarely necessary.
How long will the effects last? You may find that the pain is sometimes worse and sometimes better over time. If you get treatment soon after you notice the pain, the symptoms should stop after several weeks. If, however, you have had plantar fasciitis for a long time, it may take many weeks to months for the pain to go away.
When can one return to normal activities? Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. One may safely return to activities full range of motion and strenghth in the injured foot are similier to the uninjured foot.
How can one prevent plantar fasciitis? The best way to prevent plantar fasciitis is to wear shoes that are well made and fit and support the feet. This is especially important at exercising walking or standing for a long time on hard surfaces. One should also avoid repeated jarring to the heel and Maintain a healthy weight.
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