What Is Plantar Fasciitis And How To Know If I Have It?
Pain that prevents you from moving around can disturb normal daily life more than anything else.
If you’re experiencing pain in the bottom of your heel, it may be worth getting checked out. Your pain can be coming from an irritated planta fascia ligament.
You might have relief from a nonsurgical treatment, but in cases when the inflammation is severe, you might want to consider surgery.
In this article, we cover plantar fasciitis in further detail, including its symptoms, causes, and forms of treatment.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the bottom of the heel. The thick, web-like ligament that links your heel to the front of your foot is called the plantar fascia. It assists you in walking by serving as a shock absorber and supporting your foot's arch.
One of the most prevalent orthopedic complaints is plantar fasciitis. Your daily activities put a lot of strain on your plantar fascia ligaments. The ligaments can be harmed or torn by placing too much pressure on your feet. Inflammation of the plantar fascia results in stiffness and pain in the heels.
What Are Plantar Fasciitis' Main Common Symptoms?
Pain at the bottom of the heel or occasionally the bottom of the midfoot is the main symptom of plantar fasciitis. It typically only affects one foot, although it might happen with both.
Plantar fasciitis pain gradually worsens over time. The discomfort may be severe or mild. Some people experience a burning or aching sensation that radiates outward from the heel on the bottom of the foot.
After sitting or sleeping down for a while, the discomfort is frequently worse when you first get out of bed in the morning. Due to heel stiffness, stair climbing might be quite challenging.
An increase in irritation or inflammation may cause the discomfort to worsen after prolonged activity. Plantar fasciitis patients typically experience pain only after quitting an activity.
Who Gets Plantar Fasciitis And What The Causes Are?
Heel spurs do not cause discomfort in patients with plantar fasciitis, contrary to what doctors once thought.
Overstretching or misuse of this ligament are the main causes of plantar fasciitis, however a tear or minor tears in the fascia tissue can also result in pain. You may be more prone to getting plantar fasciitis depending on the way your feet are built.
The largest risk for getting plantar fasciitis is among active men and women between the ages of 40 and 70. It affects women slightly more frequently than it does males. Plantar fasciitis is a common ailment among pregnant women, especially in the latter stages.
Risk Factors.
You have a higher chance of getting plantar fasciitis if you:
- having obesity or being overweight. This is because your plantar fascia ligaments are under more pressure, especially if you've gained weight quickly.
- are long-distance runner.
- have a job that requires you to move around a lot, like serving in a restaurant or working in a factory.
- have structural foot problems, such flat feet or high arches.
- have stiff Achilles tendons, which connect your calf muscles to the back of your heels.
- frequently wear footwear with little arch support and soft soles.
- What is the treatment for plantar fasciitis?
- Plantar fasciitis is frequently first treated at home with rest, ice, bracing, and anti-inflammatory medications. If none of those work, a corticosteroid injection into the ligament's injured area may be effective. This can be done in your doctor's office.
Nonsurgical Treatment For Plantar Fasciitis
A crucial component of treating plantar fasciitis is physical therapy. Your plantar fascia and Achilles tendons can both benefit from stretching. Your lower leg muscles can be strengthened with workouts from a physical therapist or by using electrical pulse massagers, which will assist to stabilize your gait and minimize the strain on your plantar fascia.
Stretching Exercises:
- Plantar fasciitis can be relieved and even prevented with the use of gentle stretches. Stretching your plantar fascia and calves can allow your muscles to relax and lessen heel pain.
- Running is one exercise that should be avoided for a while to allow the plantar fascia to heal. You can exercise without making your heel discomfort worse by swimming and engaging in other low-impact sports. Restarting your running should be done gradually.
- While exercising, take a break and stretch to prevent the pain from coming back. Stretching should also be done before working out.
Shoes For Better Toe Health
Wearing shoes that offer proper support cushion can help protect your feet, prevent plantar fasciitis, foot pain and injury to your tendons and your aches.
Fayybek shoes are built on a foot-shaped last. That means from the very beginning, Fayybek shoes more properly fit your feet, and allow for the right support, cushion and space for healthy feet. Fayybek even offers a large variety of wide shoes for women as well as wide shoes for men.