Plantar fasciitis treatment

Plantar fasciitis is a common yet painful condition of the foot, primarily in the heel and arch, caused when the fascia on the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed. Find relief with Arizona Foot Doctors.

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Find Plantar Fasciitis relief with AFD

Plantar fasciitis is a common yet painful condition of the foot, primarily in the heel and arch, caused when the fascia on the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed. This is caused by a painful stretching or micro-tearing of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a fibrous or tendon-like structure that courses along the bottom of the foot, connecting the toes and calcaneus or heel bone.

The condition is a familiar complaint of athletes who do a lot of running and jumping. People who wear the wrong shoes and are overweight also come to our offices for plantar fasciitis treatment.

Not only does this inflammation create pain in the heel and foot, but heel spurs often accompany this condition, which are also painful. Heel spurs develop because the body is trying to compensate for the injury by laying down calcium in the heel bone, which results in a spur. Our medical professionals at Arizona Foot Doctors are pleased to offer our patients treatment for plantar fasciitis as well as heel spurs.

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What causes plantar fasciitis?

Hard running and jumping causes the toes to bend and put stress on the plantar facia where it connects to the heel. This causes the plantar facia to become inflamed. Here are the most common causes of plantar fasciitis:

  • Non-supportive shoes
  • Overpronation (flat feet)
  • Excessive running
  • Shoes that don’t fit well
  • Weight gain

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis pain is felt in the heel area, which is worse when the patient first wakes up in the morning. Rest actually makes plantar fasciitis pain worse initially. Ironically, the pain often goes away when the person exercises, but it comes back later.  Our doctors diagnose the condition through a physical exam and x-rays of the affected foot.

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What is the treatment of plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis treatment couldn’t be easier or more convenient. If you’re experiencing pain in your heel or arch when you walk or when you first get out of bed in the morning, you should contact a podiatrist for a diagnosis.

We tell our patients to stop all activity when they first feel pain in their heel and then rest. We also advice them to alternate cold and warm compresses to reduce the swelling and stimulate blood circulation in the area. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also lessen the pain and the swelling. The good news is that the great majority of people who get help for plantar fasciitis recover after a few months.

Our plantar fasciitis treatment includes steroid injections and electrotherapy to control the swelling and the insertion of orthotics in our patients’ shoes to support the medial arch. We also use night splints and taping of the foot and recommend physical therapy as the patient heals. Our plantar fasciitis treatment plan includes

  • Stretches
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Ice
  • Physical therapy
  • Orthotics
  • Cortisone shots
  • Ultra sonic treatment
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Contact Arizona Foot Doctors—Scottsdale's top podiatry practice

Though there really isn’t a cure for plantar fasciitis, changing the habits that cause the condition usually helps alleviate it, and surgery is an option in cases where conservative treatment doesn’t work after many months. Losing weight and wearing the appropriate shoes are also effective in preventing the return of the condition.

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