Plantar Fasciitis:
How to Get Rid of Chronic Foot Pain and Forget About the Condition
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation that occurs due to the tearing of the connective structure of the foot, which runs along its entire bottom and connects the heel bone to the toes. Without proper treatment, it leads to further degeneration of the plantar fascia, a common cause of heel pain.
A heel spur is common among patients who are actively engaged in sports, especially runners and dancers, after sustaining injuries. Excess weight and footwear that puts pressure on your plantar fascia are also risk factors for developing plantar fasciitis.
How Plantar Fasciitis Occurs
Let’s start by answering the question: What is a plantar fascia? It’s the underside projection of the heel bone, whose physiological function is to cushion the tendons and support the arch of the foot.
Small microtears occur when there’s increased stress and tension in this area. Repetitive stretching and damage causes microtrauma to the fascia tissues and lead to the inflammation of anatomical structures and tissues under the heel bone.
Thus, the main cause of plantar fascia is the microdamage of plantar fascia tissue due to constant mechanical pressure. Prolonged inflammatory processes contribute to forming a bony growth – heel spur, localized in the area of the heel bump. This growth causes friction with surrounding fascial tissues, which triggers inflammation and, consequently, pain.
Etiology of Plantar Fasciitis
Factors that may increase the risk of developing inflammation in the plantar fascia:
- Prolonged walking on a hard surface leads to pressure on the plantar fascia.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Obesity (excessive load on the legs).
- Wearing tight shoes or shoes with flat, hard soles.
- Flat feet, high or low arches.
- Engaging in sports that overload the fascia.
- Dysfunction of the pelvic region.
- Inflammation, excessive strain on the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon.
Plantar fascia occurs in approximately 10% of the population, with 83% of these patients being working-age adults. The peak incidence occurs in the population aged 40 to 60 years.
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
One of the symptoms of the condition is constant pain. You can feel plantar fasciitis pain in the morning, localized in the sole area. You can reduce pain after stretching or massaging the feet, but it sharply intensifies after prolonged walking/standing, rising from a seated position, and exercising. Plantar fasciitis typically causes stabbing pain and stiffness, which can be felt from the first step
Plantar fasciitis symptoms:
- A lump on the heel, which is detected upon palpation.
- Severe stabbing pain in the sole while walking, especially in the morning, with increasing pain throughout the day.
- Pain in the bottom of the foot, which worsens over time.
- Swelling of the heel.
- Painful tension in the muscles of the entire limb.
Over time, plantar fasciitis can lead to conditions such as marginal bone stretches (osteophytes), fracture of the heel spur, and Achilles tendonitis. The disease is accompanied by reactive and psoriatic arthritis.
If you notice one or several of the listed symptoms, immediately consult a doctor to prevent the development of the disease.
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Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis
The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis is established based on complaints of pain in the heel area and during physical examination. The doctor performs a simple test – firmly presses the heel bone with the thumb during dorsiflexion of the foot, which causes pain.
The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis includes:
- X-ray examination.
- Instrumental visualization methods.
Over time, plantar fasciitis can lead to conditions such as marginal bone stretches (osteophytes), fracture of the heel spur, and Achilles tendonitis. The disease is accompanied by reactive and psoriatic arthritis.
Methods of Treating Plantar Fasciitis
If you have experienced this problem firsthand, there’s no need to despair. This pathology responds very well relieved by initial treatment methods, especially when the doctor applies a comprehensive approach to therapy.
Plantar fasciitis (heel spurs) treatment aims to normalize foot biomechanics, relieve pressure on the plantar fascia, and eliminate muscle shortening. You can cure plantar fascia with a complex of effective nonsurgical treatment:
- Physical therapy. Physical stretching exercises aimed at reducing stress on the plantar fascia (calf muscles and plantar fascia) help reduce pain and inflammation.
- Pharmacotherapy. Plantar fasciitis treatment is based on administering corticosteroids and analgesic drugs.
- Nighttime immobilization. The use of night orthoses provides stretching of the calf muscles and arch of your foot during sleep, helping to keep the plantar fascia in a physiological position and facilitating stretching.
- Physiotherapy.A complex of plantar fascia release involves making warming rubs, mud applications, and mineral baths. This reduces pain in the Achilles tendon and strengthens the lower leg muscles, stabilizing the ankles and heels.
- Orthopedics. Custom orthopedic insoles, footwear, or supinators help distribute pressure on the feet and reduce pressure on the sole.
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Sound waves act on the painful area in the heel, stimulating healing. This method is effective for treating chronic plantar fasciitis.
Over time, plantar fasciitis can lead to conditions such as marginal bone stretches (osteophytes), fracture of the heel spur, and Achilles tendonitis. The disease is accompanied by reactive and psoriatic arthritis.
Prevention of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis responds well to treatment, but it’s better to prevent a heel spur than to treat it. If you are at risk, it is worth considering how to prevent plantar fasciitis and protect yourself from the onset of unpleasant heel pain.
Recommendations from our specialists:
- Avoid overloading the foot.
- Rest during running and other sports activities.
- Use sneakers with midfoot support systems for sports and walks.
- Do foot stretching exercises.
- Painful tension in the muscles of the entire limb.
- Perform foot massages.
Our experts will help you to choose the proper preventive measures , taking into account the degree and severity of the disease. We work with the proprietary methods, such as “Foot massage” and “Kmit BodyAlignment”, which aim to restore foot function and prevent possible recurrences. Relieving pain and restoring foot functionality is our ongoing work to ensure the health of our clients
FAQ
Plantar fasciitis (heel enthesopathy) is inflammation in the plantar fascia due to microtrauma. Its occurrence is due to the shortening of the calf muscle, which causes tension in the plantar fascia and the development of pathological processes, namely the formation of abnormal growth. Most often, severe pain is felt at the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel bone, sometimes on the inner or outer surface of the foot, and intensifies during walking or when pressure is applied to the heel.
Improper treatment or failure to follow medical recommendations can exacerbate heel spurs, threatening partial mobility loss. In neglected cases, osteophytes can grow up to 20 mm. Such a growth causes the proliferation of ligaments, tendons, and fascia and their injury, which can lead to wound infection and tissue necrosis, damage to nerve fibers (tarsal tunnel syndrome), and loss of mobility.
It is best to approach the treatment of heel spurs comprehensively. Namely, using the most effective methods of physiotherapy, massage, and proprietary therapy techniques from professional massage therapist Svitlana Kmit of Massage Bliss and Bodywork , Chicago: Foot Massage , Kmit BodyAlignment
