Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is pain and inflammation of the fascia on the sole of the foot. This fascia, sometimes also called the arch tendon, runs from under the heel, along the sole of the foot, to the base of the toes. It helps form and support the longitudinal arch of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis is sometimes confused with a heel spur. These two conditions are related, although are not the same thing. A heel spur is a bony growth which develops underneath the heel, due to the soft tissues which attach there (including the plantar fascia) pulling on the bone. Heel spurs are present in a large number of cases of plantar fasciitis, but not all. On the other hand, some people may develop heel spurs and suffer no symptoms at all.

There are a few factors which can contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis. These include having tight calf muscles and overpronating (the arch of the foot flattens as you walk).

Symptoms

• Pain under the heel which may or may not radiate along the arch of the foot.
• Pain is usually worse in the mornings. The first few steps are often very painful and this eases the longer you spend on your feet.
• Pain is sometimes present on the outside of the heel.

Treatment

There are lots of treatments which have been shown to be beneficial to plantar fasciitis sufferers, including:

• Cold therapy - cooling the fascia following activity will help to ease pain and inflammation.
• Massage - deep tissue massage techniques can be used to loosen the fascia and the calf muscles.
• Stretching - there are several ways in which you can stretch the plantar fascia to prevent it tightening up. The calf muscle should also be stretch daily.
• A plantar fascia night splint - this stretches the calf and plantar fasciitis overnight.
• anti-inflammatory medication - such as ibuprofen may be prescribed by a doctor or specialist.
• Taping - can be used to take the strain off the fascia.
• Orthotics - can be used to correct foot position if this is found to be a problem.
• Corticosteroid injections - may be administered in long-term cases which do not improve with conservative treatments.
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy - is a relatively new treatment which has been shown to have beneficial effects on plantar fasciitis.
• Surgery - this is a last resort and is rarely used.

Further Information

• Plantar fasciitis - for further information on treatment including rehabilitation, taping, sports massage, stretching and more visit sportsinjuryclinic.net