What is Plantar Fasciitis? Causes, Symptoms, and Relief
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It happens when the plantar fascia which is a long triangular thick band of ligamentous tissue along the bottom of your foot with the point of the triangle is inserted at the heel bone becomes strained and inflamed.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis:
- Repetitive stress or overuse
- Flat feet ( pes planus ) or high arched feet ( pes cavus)
- Wearing unsupportive shoes
- Long hours on your feet
- Excessive weight gain in a short amount of time even as little as 10 extra pounds ( I personally developed plantar fasciitis during pregnancy.)
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis:
- Sharp heel pain with first steps in the morning- tell-tale sign
- Pain after standing or walking for long periods
- Tenderness on the bottom of the heel
How to Treat Acute Plantar Fasciitis <3 months: (Treatment is different based on if it is early onset/ acute or chronic Check out my you tube episodes and blog for more information.)
- Rest and avoid activities that increase heel pain
- Wear supportive shoes or orthotic inserts like spenco orthotics at all times when weightbearing even around the house.
- Gentle calf stretches and plantar fascia stretches
- Night splints help with morning heel pain .
Related Products:
- ✅ Arch supports – improve foot alignment and support the plantar fascia to prevent it from pulling at the heel bone. I like spenco orthotics and power steps. Or you can do an arch strapping if your heel is too sore for an orthotic. Please check out my video on how to apply a arch strapping
- ✅ Night splints – gently stretch while you sleep.
***Always consult your physician before initiating treatment and to get a proper diagnosis.
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The above information is the current standard of care and consistent following physician groups below and the medical community at large: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Standard of care for plantar fasciitis : https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/globalassets/pdfs/planter-fasciitis.pdf American Family Physicians standard of care: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0615/p744.html#nonoperative-treatment Latt LD, Jaffe DE, Tang Y, Taljanovic MS. Evaluation and Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2020 Feb 13;5(1):2473011419896763. doi: 10.1177/2473011419896763. PMID: 35097359; PMCID: PMC8564931. American Podiatric Medical Association standard of care: https://www.apma.org/files/stretching%20plantar%20fasciitis%20APMA%202018%20.pdf And American Academy of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Standard of Care for plantar fasciitis: https://www.acfas.org/ACFAS/media/ACFAS_Media/Heel-Pain-CCS.pdf
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