Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition in which the plantar fascia ligament that works like a bow-string on the bottom of your foot gets very inflamed. This condition is one of the most common foot pain causes. 

The hallmark of plantar fasciitis is usually sharp heel pain when you get out of bed or when you stand up after a long period of rest. It's very common to have severe pain with your first couple of steps, and then a gradual reduction of pain during the day. 

Why does plantar fasciitis develop?

Plantar fasciitis happens because of strain. When your plantar fascia ligament gets overstrained, its soft tissue fibers tear in many places. Your body's natural response to this strain is inflammation, which leads to the pain of plantar fasciitis. 

Many athletes can develop plantar fasciitis, especially if they run and jump frequently. But, you can get plantar fasciitis even if you never do any exercise. Certain risk factors can predispose you to plantar fasciitis, including obesity, faulty foot mechanics, and working in occupations where you stand for long hours. Some diseases may also lead to plantar fasciitis, for example, reactive arthritis.

How does the doctor diagnose plantar fasciitis?

The Garden State Foot & Ankle Specialists team typically conducts a foot and ankle exam to replicate the pain. You may need to do specific stretches at your podiatrist's direction so they can observe your plantar fascia ligaments at work. 

Typically, a physical exam and a detailed description of your symptoms yield enough information to make a plantar fasciitis diagnosis. If you could have a different underlying cause of heel pain, like a stress fracture, you may need X-ray imaging as well. 

How can I treat plantar fasciitis pain?

The Garden State Foot & Ankle Specialists team typically prescribes conservative treatments for plantar fasciitis, starting with the basics of:

• Rest
• Ice application
• Avoiding exercise that aggravates your plantar fascia 

To heal as quickly as possible, you may also need one or more of the following noninvasive treatments. 

• Orthotics or heel pads as a buffer for your plantar fascia
• Prescription stretches to lengthen your plantar fascia
• Night splint to lengthen your plantar fascia while asleep
• Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain

If you don't get relief from noninvasive treatments, you may need a surgery called a plantar fascia release. In this procedure, your podiatrist releases a part of your plantar fascia from your heel bone to lessen the tension and pain. 

Get plantar fasciitis pain relief by calling the Garden State Foot & Ankle Specialists location nearest you or book online now.