Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis Causes
Under normal circumstances, your plantar fascia acts like a shock-absorbing bowstring, supporting the arch in your foot. However, if tension on that bowstring becomes too great, it can create small tears in the fascia. Repetitive stretching and tearing may cause the fascia to become irritated or inflamed.
Plantar Fasciitis Definition
Plantar fasciitis formerly called "policeman's heel" in the United Kingdom, is a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia of the foot or biomechanical faults that cause abnormal pronation of the foot.
Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosis
A doctor may suggest an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to make sure you don't have a stress fracture.
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms and Signs
Plantar fasciitis usually develops gradually, but it can come on suddenly and be severe. And however it can affect both feet, it more often occurs in only one foot at a time. You have to watch for: Sharp pain in the inside part of the bottom of your heel; Heel pain that tends to be worse with the first few steps after awakening; Heel pain after long periods of standing or after getting up from a seated position.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
Night splints the doctor may recommend wearing a splint fitted to your calf and foot while you sleep. Orthotics the doctor may prescribe off-the-shelf or custom-fitted arch supports (orthotics) to help distribute pressure to your feet more evenly. Physical therapy could instruct the patient series of exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon and to strengthen lower leg muscles, which stabilize your ankle and heel.