What Are The Best Treatments For Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms?

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation in the plantar fascia, which is a wide ligament going under the mid-foot ( arch ) and connecting the heel to the toes. This condition arises if this ligament becomes damaged and develops tiny tears at the point where it connects with your heel bone, or at any point along its length.

Damage to the plantar fascia tendon happens when it is over used and becomes 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 individuals with excessively flat or unusually high arches. For these reasons, the most susceptible groups are typically young adult athletes and middle aged women.

The symptoms of plantar fasciitis are typically felt as excruciating stabbing or burning heel pain, which is usually worse first thing in the morning when getting out of bed, or when taking the first steps after sitting for a long period. This is because the over stretched plantar fascia tightens and shortens overnight or during periods of inactivity. The first steps in the morning are therefore directly onto a tight ligament, causing a sharp tug on the heel bone, aggravating the inflammation in the tendon and re-igniting the cycle of pain.

Because of the association with heel pain, sufferers may believe they have heel spurs. However, whilst heel spurs can be common amongst sufferers, they are actually totally unrelated to the condition and it is important to treat the plantar fasciitis if it is to be cured.

Unless treated, the foot pain will get worse and will eventually alter the way you walk, which in time can lead to more serious knee, hip and back problems.

Treatment is usually conservative in nature and includes rest, good footwear, heel pads. However plantar fasciitis treatment can include extra corporeal shock wave therapy, massages, taping or night splints, stretching and oral pain relief. As with other musculo-skeletal pain, treatment for heel pain can be alleviated by following R.I.C.E., which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

Rest and elevation are the best cures for this condition and it is essential that sufferers stop all exercise and non essential activity which can cause further inflammation. However, sitting down with your feet up can be very hard to achieve in reality and is why plantar fasciitis is rarely cured quickly.

Icing the area can be very beneficial. This can be simply done by gently rolling a frozen can of fizzy drink under the foot. Compression, using gentle arch support bandages may also help alleviate under foot and heel pain. However if you are serious about curing plantar fasciitis you really need to take a multi pronged approach. Many will get relief by not walking as much, taking painkillers as required, doing gentle foot exercises and wearing night splints.


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