What Causes Plantar Faciitis And How One Can Remedy It

February 22nd, 2010
 


 

If you suffer from bothering heel pain, odds are you are having plantar fasciitis. This is one of the most seen cause of heel pain there is. So what exactly is plantar fasciitis? Our feet have a ligament called the plantar fascia that attaches the heel bone to the toes. It also provides support to the arch of your foot so if this ligament gets strained in any way, it weakens and can become infected and painful.

Plantar fasciitis typically happens in people who are middle-aged. It can occur in people who are regular runners or those who are overweight, no matter what their age. The pain usually comes on gradually. It normally only affects one foot, but it can occur in both feet at one time. When this happens and you are in the Baltimore area you are should see a Baltimore podiatrist.

Straining of the plantar fascia ligament is the reason. If it is strained over and over again, the ligament can get small tears. It is the tears that bring about the aching and inflammation. There are a number of things that can lead to this strain in the first place.

Plantar Fasciitis may have grown because you have a tendency towards pronation. This means that your feet roll in while you walk. If you have either high arches or flat feet this can put tension on the ligament. If you spend lots of time on your feet, either standing, running, or strolling, this too can have a consequence.

If you wear ill-fitting shoes or shoes with no support, you may suffer with this illness. Having stretched calf muscles or Achilles tendons can put stress on the ligament. The primary symptoms are stiffness and pain in the heel which is perhaps worse when you first get out of bed in the morning or get up after a long period of resting. The pain may ease after taking your first few steps, but it likely will hurt more during the course of the day.

At first, you can self-treat your plantar fasciitis without consulting a foot physician. Here are a few of the things you are able to do to help your foot heel. Cut back on the things that make your foot feel uncomfortable and let it rest. Preventing hard surfaces is always advisable.

Icing your heel will aid in the swelling and the pain, as will taking something such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Calf stretches and stretching out your foot by pulling it back with the aid of a towel should be done several times a day, particularly in the morning time. Shoes with sufficient arch support can help, and adding shoe inserts to both shoes.

If you are in Baltimore and the foot pain stays for 6 months or more even after applying all these things, it may be time to see a Baltimore foot doctor. There is a fairly new therapy for plantar fasciitis called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy. ESWT releases sound waves to the heel area, which generates new blood circulation to the strained or torn ligament. This operation is safe and requires three or four sessions to work .
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