Plantar Fascitis: What Is It And How To Treat It
Learn Everything You Need To Know About Plantar Fascitis
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. It’s a common cause of heel pain and can be difficult to treat. Plantar fasciitis is most often seen in middle-aged adults, but it can occur at any age. The condition is more common in women than men, but fortunately, there is a plantar fasciitis treatment that can help alleviate pain.
Plantar fasciitis is usually the result of overuse, such as from too much running or standing on hard surfaces. It can also be caused by injury, obesity, or a change in shoe gear.
Treatment for plantar fasciitis includes rest, ice, and stretches to ease the pain. In some cases, splints or night braces may be recommended to keep your foot from flexing while you sleep. Surgery is rarely needed. With proper treatment, most people with plantar fasciitis eventually recover.
Some other treatments that may be recommended are physical therapy
massage, ultrasound treatments, steroid injections, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).
Some of the symptoms of this condition are heel pain that is worse in the morning or after standing for long periods of time, pain that eases with walking, running, or stretching, and swelling or tenderness in the heel area.
Additionally, plantar fasciitis can sometimes be accompanied by heel spurs. Heel spurs are bony growths that form on the heel bone, and they can be quite painful. However, not everyone who has plantar fasciitis will also have heel spurs.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor or other healthcare provider so that they can diagnose the problem and recommend appropriate treatment.