Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a broad ligament that runs under the midfoot (arch) and connects the heel to the toes. This condition arises if this ligament becomes damaged and develops small tears at the point where it connects to the heel bone, or at any point along its length.
Damage to the plantar fascia tendon occurs when it is overused and overstretched. This commonly happens in people who are overweight, women who are or have been pregnant, women who have habitually worn high heels, runners, and people with excessively flat or unusually high arches. For these reasons, the most susceptible groups are often young adult athletes and middle-aged women.
The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are usually felt as a throbbing or burning pain in the heel, which is usually worse first thing in the morning when getting out of bed or taking the first few steps after sitting for a long period of time. This is because the overstretched plantar fascia tightens and shortens overnight or during periods of inactivity. Therefore, the first few steps in the morning are directly on a strained ligament, causing a strong pull on the heel bone, exacerbating inflammation in the tendon and turning the pain cycle back on.
Due to the association with heel pain, patients may believe they have heel spurs. However, although heel spurs may be common among patients, they actually have nothing to do with the condition and it is important to treat plantar fasciitis to cure it.
Unless treated, foot pain will worsen and eventually alter the way you walk, which over time can lead to more serious knee, hip, and back problems.
Treatment is usually conservative and includes rest, good footwear, heel pads. However, plantar fasciitis treatment may include extracorporeal shock wave therapy, massage, bandaging or night splints, stretching, and oral pain relief. As with other musculoskeletal pain, heel pain treatment can be relieved by following RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.
Rest and elevation are the best cures for this condition and it is essential that patients stop exercising and non-essential activities that can cause further inflammation. However, sitting with your feet up can be very difficult to achieve in reality and this is why plantar fasciitis rarely heals quickly.
Icing the area can be very beneficial. This can be done simply by gently rolling a frozen can of fizzy drink under your foot. Compression, using soft arch support bandages, can also help relieve pain under the foot and in the heel. However, if you really want to cure plantar fasciitis, you really need to take a multi-pronged approach. Many will get relief by not walking as much, taking pain relievers as needed, doing gentle foot exercises, and wearing night splints.