What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis is an incredibly frustrating injury to deal with because it feels like you're walking around with a bruise on the bottom of your foot all day. But what exactly is plantar Fasciitis?
So what is your Plantar Fascia?
Your plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue on the bottom of your foot, and its job is to act like a spring. So when your foot hits the ground as you walk or run, the plantar fascia stretches out, and then springs back as you push off the ground. This allows you to absorb the shock and load that moves through your body as your walk and run, and helps to propel you forwards.
In fact, if your plantar fascia isn't acting as a very good spring - maybe you have a very flat foot or a really high and stiff arch - this is why sometimes you can develop problems further up the chain, in your knees or hips or back because the plantar fascia isn't absorbing load efficiently.
But sometimes the plantar fascia can also become painful as well, normally at the point on the bottom of your heel where it attaches. This is what we call plantar fasciitis.
This can become a really stubborn condition to treat - mainly because we are constantly loading the plantar fascia whenever we take a step throughout the day so it doesn't really get much of a chance to rest. That’s why its so important to manage the load that is going through the plantar fascia in the early stages of plantar fasciitis to help reduce the pain, before progressively building the strength in the plantar fascia and the surrounding muscles back up to a point where it can easily tolerate the loads required when you walk and run.
What is the main cause of plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. It is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot. The plantar fascia is a tough, flexible strip of tissue that helps to support the foot and prevent it from collapsing. However, the plantar fascia can become overloaded and irritated, resulting in pain and inflammation. Plantar fasciitis is often caused by overuse or repetitive stress on the foot, such as from running or standing for long periods of time. It can also be caused by sudden trauma to the foot, such as from a fall or an accident.
What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis include heel pain, arch pain, and pain in the bottom of your foot. The pain is often worse in the morning or after standing or sitting for a long period of time. Plantar fasciitis is most common in middle-aged adults, but it can happen at any age. If you have plantar fasciitis, you may be able to treat it with home remedies such as stretching and ice. However, if the pain is severe or does not improve with home treatment, you may need to see a physical therapist for treatment.
What are the risk factors for plantar fasciitis?
There are several risk factors that can increase your chances of developing plantar fasciitis, including:
Age
Plantar fasciitis is most common in middle-aged adults.
Gender
Women are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis than men.
Weight
Being overweight or obese can put extra stress on the feet and lead to plantar fasciitis.
Foot type
People with flat feet or high arches are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis.
Repetitive stress
Activities that put repeated stress on the feet, such as running or dancing, can lead to plantar fasciitis.
Shoes
Wearing shoes that are not supportive or that do not fit well can also lead to plantar fasciitis.
How is Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosed?
Plantar fasciitis is diagnosed through a combination of a medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests. Your Physiotherapist will start by asking about your symptoms and any possible risk factors. They will then examine your feet, looking for areas of tenderness or swelling. In some cases, they may also order an X-ray, ultrasound or MRI to rule out other potential causes of your pain.
How is Plantar Fasciitis Treated?
There are some things you can do to speed up the healing process and help relieve the pain of Plantar Fasciitis. Rest is important, and you should avoid activities that put stress on your feet, like running or jumping. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers to help relieve inflammation and pain. icing the affected area for 20 minutes several times a day can also help. In some cases, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help stretch and strengthen the muscles in your feet and legs. They may also prescribe steroid injections or special shoes with arch support.
