The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot.
It is attached to the heel bone and connects to each of the toes, and it provides strength and support to the foot.
In plantar fasciitis, plantar fascia becomes irritated strained and inflamed.
This causes the pain in the heel.
- Stabbing type of pain in the heel or in the arch of the foot
- The pain is usually most noticeable on taking the first morning steps, known as first-step pain.
- This heel pain will often subside as you begin to walk around, but it may return in the late afternoon or evening.
1. Plantar fasciitis is common in obese people and in pregnant women, perhaps because their extra body weight overloads the delicate plantar fascia.
2.Also more common in people with diabetes, although the exact reason for this is unknown.
3. Running for long periods. In athletes, plantar fasciitis may follow the intense training, especially in runners who push themselves too quickly to run longer distances.
4.Overstretch by physical activities including sports (volleyball, tennis), other exercises (step aerobics, stair climbing) or household exertion (pushing furniture or a large appliance) also dancing and jumping
5. Worn or poorly constructed shoes can contribute to the problem if they do not provide enough arch support, heel cushion or sole flexibility.
6. Factory workers, teachers and others who spend most of their work hours walking or standing on hard surfaces for long periods can damage their plantar fascia.
7. People who have tight calf muscles, high-arched feet, or flat feet are at risk of plantar fasciitis.
When To Call a doctor:
Call your doctor whenever you have the significant foot or heel pain, especially if this pain makes it difficult for you to walk normally.
Most people who have plantar fasciitis recover with conservative treatments
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Warming up before participating in sports
- Wearing shoes that support the arch and cushion the heel.
- Ice massage also can be used on the bottom of the foot after stressful athletic activities.
- Strict control of blood sugar will prevent plantar fasciitis in people with diabetes
- Avoidance of walking barefoot or wearing slippers or sandals that provide little arch support
- A temporary switch to swimming and/or bicycling instead of sports that involve running and jumping
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen may provide short-term relief.
- Physical therapy using ultrasound or massage techniques may be tired.
- If pain persists, steroid injections may be given into the foot to reduce the pain.
- If this conservative treatment does not help, your doctor may recommend that you wear a night splint for 6 to 8 weeks. While you sleep, the night splint will keep your foot in a neutral or slightly flexed (bent) position to help maintain the normal stretch of the plantar fascia and heel cord.
If all else fails, your doctor may suggest surgery. But this is rare
-Dr Krishna Priya