Plantar Fasciitis
What is plantar fasciitis?
The plantar fascia is a thick band of fibrous connective tissue that’s attached to your heel bone, runs across the bottom of your foot, then connects to your toes. It supports the arch of your foot and cushions your foot from the stress it endures with each step you take.
While serving as a shock absorber, the plantar fascia can become torn or damaged from the pressure, which causes inflammation and pain. This condition is called plantar fasciitis.
Risk Factors
Many people can’t pinpoint the exact cause of their heel pain because it develops gradually over time. However, certain activities and conditions increase your risk for the problem:
- Repetitive movements involving your foot
- High impact activities like jumping
- Being overweight or obese
- Starting a new activity
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Tight calf muscles that inhibit foot flexion
- Tight Achilles tendon
Symptoms
You develop heel pain that’s often severe but can range from mild and dull to unbearable and sharp. The pain is usually worse when you take your first steps after being inactive, especially when you get up after sleeping or after a long car ride.
The pain gets worse when you climb stairs or participate in activities that put excessive pressure on your foot. For all other activities, your pain may increase after the activity is over instead of bothering you while you exercise.
Treatment Options
Our comprehensive treatment approach offers several benefits for healing plantar fasciitis and eliminating the pain. Your doctor at MultiCare Medical Group evaluates your posture and the entire length of your back, hips, and legs because their health affects your feet. Any imbalance, muscle tightness, or other health issue that occurs along that chain influences the mechanics of your foot.
Your doctor may recommend:
- Custom Orthotics
- Trigger point therapy
- Chiropractic Manipulation
- Soft tissue manipulation
- Stretching
- Massage
- Laser Therapy
- Ultrasound Therapy
Your treatment plan may also include stretching and exercises to do at home to relieve stress on the plantar fascia. Your doctor takes the time to teach you the type of exercise and proper technique to get the most from home therapy.