Could Your Heel Pain be Plantar Fasciitis ?
If you are suffering from heel pain, particularly in the sole of your foot near the heel, it may be plantar fasciitis: a very common foot ailment. Here's how to identify the symptoms and the best ways to relieve the discomfort.
What Is Your Plantar Fascia?
The powerful band of tissue known as the plantar fascia runs from the base of your toes to the heel bone. When walking, it cushions impact and supports the arch of the foot.
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
This condition occurs when the fascia is overstretched and becomes inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. Small tears in the fascia can be brought on by tension and stress.
What Are the Symptoms?
The heel may be swollen and you may feel a dull or stabbing pain under the arch of the foot. Although it is sometimes experienced in the centre of the foot, the pain typically shows where the tendon joins the heel bone. A stabbing type of pain frequently occurs with your first steps in the morning. The sensation is similar to feeling a small stone under the heel. The pain may be erratic and come and go. The discomfort usually subsides as you rise and move around, but it could come back if you stand for a long time or get up suddenly after sitting.
Who Is at Risk?
The ailment is most likely to affect active adults over the age of forty, and individuals who:
- must stand continuously for long stretches of time
- run regularly over great distances
- are obese or overweight
- do not wear supportive, comfortable shoes
- have flat feet or very high arches
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect you have plantar fasciitis, it is important to seek treatment right away. Not only does it affect your gait, untreated plantar fasciitis may also lead to extra pain and discomfort in other parts of the body.
What Is the Best Treatment?
Your podiatrist will recommend a rehabilitation program. It will most likely include ultrasound imaging and will entail specific exercises designed to improve and expand the range of motion in the plantar fascia. The plan will also cover ways to reduce pain and ways to manage the load on the foot. It may also include recommendations for orthotics or night braces and splits. Technology using pulse activation, specific orthotics and using night braces or splints
Fortunately, the majority of cases of plantar fasciitis using a rehabilitative program will recover in just a few months.
For more information, reach out to a local clinic, such as Plympton Podiatry Centre.