Plantar Fasciitis

Found most often in women and in people who are overweight, one of the most common causes of pain in the bottom of the heel is plantar fasciitis.

An inflammation of the plantar fascia is called plantar fasciitis (plantar fasciitis). A thick fibrous band running along the bottom of the foot which attaches to the heel and to the ball of the foot is defined as the plantar fascia.

Inflammation can occur anywhere along the plantar fascia, but it most commonly occurs in the heel, at the point where the fibrous band attaches to the heel. It is the inflammation of this fibrous band that causes the pain of plantar fasciitis. Once you have experienced this pain in the foot, it is one thing that you simply will never forget.

The pain of plantar fasciitis is most intense first thing in the morning or even after a period of rest. The first few steps after resting can be quite painful but it does tend to ease a bit after the first few steps.

The pain of plantar fasciitis can be described as sharp, stabbing, or even burning. The pain can be quite intense and can certainly impact your quality of life. Although rest can help to reduce the pain of plantar fasciitis, this is often very difficult to manage.

The pain of plantar fasciitis can be recreated by flexing the toes upward. This movement mimics the same movement that creates tension on the plantar fascia. Repetitive stress on the plantar fascia can cause this ligament to stretch irregularly and ultimately develop small tears. These small tears can lead to inflammation which leads to the pain of plantar fasciitis.

So what can you do about the pain of plantar fasciitis? Anti-inflammatory medications, rest, ice, shoe orthotics, stretching exercises and splinting at night can all be very useful to help relieve some of the pain.

The most important thing to remember is that regardless of the treatment you seek, you must seek treatment for the pain of plantar fasciitis. If left untreated, plantar fasciitis can worsen and can ultimately lead to the development of heel spurs, which may require surgical intervention.

Plantar fasciitis can definitely impact your quality of life and can make daily activities a bit more challenging. Seek the advice of your personal physician, but don’t give in to the pain of plantar fasciitis.