Many people out there have heard of “plantar fasciitis” but many of these people don’t actually know what it is and what it causes. Plantar fasciitis involves inflammation of a large band of tissue that connects the heel bone and the toes in your foot. This condition is most common in runners, overweight people, and those who wear shoes that don’t provide adequate foot support. Now that you know what plantar fasciitis is, let’s discuss the causes and symptoms of it.
Plantar fasciitis is believed to develop as a result of repeated, small tears in plantar fascia, that can be caused by the stretching and force put on the foot while walking. This can lead to the plantar fascia becoming weak, swollen, and inflamed. This inflammation is usually felt most when walking following a long period of sitting or at the end of a day that included a lot of walking. But, why do certain people suffer from plantar fasciitis while others do not?
Many cases of plantar fasciitis are caused by biomechanical factors in an individual’s body. These could include flat feet, tight tendons in the heels, tight calf muscles, or high arched. All of these natural biomechanical factors in a person’s body can make them more likely to suffer from plantar fasciitis. So, now that we know who is most likely to suffer from plantar fasciitis, let’s move onto what those suffering from plantar fasciitis will experience.
While the most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain in taking your first steps after getting out of bed or after sitting for a long period of time, there are a number of other symptoms some suffering from plantar fasciitis may experience. These symptoms include pain at the beginning of exercising that goes away as the exercise continues but then returns after exercising is finished, pain after standing for long periods of time, and pain that gets worse while climbing stairs or standing on your toes. These symptoms can cause plantar fasciitis to be mistaken for other conditions with similar symptoms, such as arthritis and tarsal tunnel syndrome.
In order to diagnose a patient with plantar fasciitis, a doctor will usually do a physical examination of the foot while the patient is standing. Performing x-rays on the foot are not helpful in diagnosing plantar fasciitis because they do not clearly show the ligament. Once a doctor has diagnosed a patient with plantar fasciitis, the best way to treat the condition is to rest your feet by limiting walking on hard surfaces or running. Equally as important to resting your feet is using orthotics in your shoes to help cushion the heel. Lastly, those with plantar fasciitis should complete daily exercises such toe and calf stretches upon waking up in the morning. These stretches can help the ligament become stronger and more flexible.
If you or someone you know has been suffering from foot pain that you believe may be plantar fasciitis, give Advanced Chiropractic & Rehab Inc. a call today at (330) 726-7404 to schedule a free consultation to see how we can help. We have been servicing the Youngstown and Mahoning Valley area since 2001 with convenient locations in Boardman, Hubbard, and Kinsman. At Advanced Chiropractic & Rehab Inc, we are a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation group that treats work comp injuries, whiplash, sports injuries and specializes in much more than just low back pain.