23 December 2018

Plantar Fasciitis: what you need to know

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain and can often be identified as a sharp stabbing pain in the heel area, which usually occurs in the morning. It

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain and can often be identified as a sharp stabbing pain in the heel area, which usually occurs in the morning. It is especially common in those who run regularly or take part in high-impact sports, so if you are very active, you should consider some preventative measures which may affect your ability to perform well.

The plantar fasciitis is a band of tissue in your foot that can become inflamed, hence why it occurs often in runners.

In this blog, we take a look at some of the FAQs regarding plantar fasciitis including what you need to be aware of, and how we can help you.

What does plantar fasciitis feel like?

Many plantar fasciitis sufferers describe the pain as a sharp or shooting pain in or around the heel area. It occurs after you have been stationary for prolonged periods of time, such as sleeping.

You may also feel pain in the bottom of the foot, which can turn into a dull ache throughout the day. This can start to become more painful if you start vigorous exercise or activity, or if you have been on your feet for long periods of time.

What causes plantar fasciitis to flare up?

As we mentioned above, runners are prone to suffer from plantar fasciitis, but others that might be fall prey to this are pregnant women and those who are overweight or obese.

There are many different factors that can contribute to plantar fasciitis symptoms such as:

– Being on your feet all day (such as working in a restaurant or in a warehouse)

– If you have structural problems with your feet (such as high arches or flat feet)

– Wearing shoes without proper support

– Vigorous activity & sport (such as long-distance running, athletics, football etc.)

Plantar fasciitis symptoms can flare up during, immediately after or even the morning after any of the above. As the tissue will be inflamed, which causes the pain in the sole of the foot and the heel, which can become more painful when you have not walked for a long time.

How to treat plantar fasciitis

Our expert physicians at 23MD offer a variety of solutions for treating plantar fasciitis, including the following treatments:

– botulinum toxin injections which involves botulinum toxin being injected into the plantar fascia in order to reduce swelling and discomfort

– The dry needling method, where a puncture is made on the plantar fascia, which heals the scar tissue through minor bleeding, which significantly reduces your symptoms

– Shockwave treatment which is a procedure that involves applying sound waves on the problem area in order to break up scar tissue and increase the production of collagen, resulting in substantial healing

– Platelet-rich plasma treatment, which is the process of drawing blood into concerted platelets in order to inject them into the affected area to create new tissue.

How to prevent plantar fasciitis

Once you have received one of our first-rate treatments, you will be informed about some of the following preventative measures:

– Make sure you wear supportive shoes, especially when exercising

– Do regular exercises to strengthen the feet and stretch out the muscle and tissue

– Invest in night splints or inner supports – run this past one of our expert physicians before using them to make sure it will be beneficial for you to do so

As plantar fasciitis is a common injury that can be caused by a multitude of unavoidable circumstances, there is a chance you may experience it at some point in your lifetime. Just remember that if you feel any pain or discomfort, it is always safer to get it checked out by an expert physician.