Plantar Fasciitis: Risks and Treatment Options

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Heel pain comes in various forms, making it one of the common ailments that you will suffer from in your adulthood. Plantar fasciitis is one of the typical forms of heel pain that people develop at one time or another. This pain happens when the connective tissue located at the bottom of your foot is always overloaded, leading to excessive pressure. As a result, your foot becomes inflamed, and you experience considerable amounts of pain and irritation. Heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis is usually encountered in the morning right as you get out of bed since your foot has been in a resting position all night. So what do you need to know about this type of heel pain?

Risks of developing plantar fasciitis

There is an assortment of things that would increase your risk factor for acquiring plantar fasciitis. A few of the reasons why people develop this particular heel pain include:

  • Ageing: Although plantar fasciitis can occur at any point in your life, it is common in older people due to the wear and tear of the plantar fascia tissue.
  • Over exertion: There are various types of physical activity, which can lead to plantar fasciitis if you overdo them. For example ballet, dance aerobics, running and exercises that place a considerable amount of pressure on your heel.
  • Not stretching: Since the plantar fascia is a band of tissue, they need to be flexible to provide you with enhanced mobility. If you do not warm up before engaging in strenuous activity, the plantar fascia stays tight and increases the risk of your straining it.
  • Individual foot mechanics: Unfortunately, some people may be susceptible to plantar fasciitis simply due to how their feet work. If you tend to over pronate your feet or if your feet roll in as you walk, you are likely to develop heel pain.
  • Sudden weight gain: Being overweight puts increased pressure on your frame. All this stress is absorbed by your feet, which makes you prone to heel pain.

Treatment options

No matter the cause of plantar fasciitis, the pain and general discomfort would make you want to remedy it right away. Luckily, this type of heel pain can quickly be resolved right from the comfort of your home. Nevertheless, if you try these remedies and they do not work, be sure to visit a podiatrist. Some of the treatment options you could utilise include:

  • Icing the affected foot multiple times in the day to reduce inflammation.
  • Massaging your foot by stepping on a tennis ball and rolling it under the sole of your foot.
  • Staying off your feet to give your plantar fascia time to heal.

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5 September 2017

Podiatry for children

My son has always been an eager athletics competitor. He loves to run and jump, and especially loves to be the winner. He has been getting a lot of foot pain recently, and I wasn't sure if it was due to growing pains or if he'd been exercising too much. Luckily we found a great pediatric podiatrist who has been able to help him treat the pain and get some new foot inserts and shoes so that he doesn't keep having issues. This blog is all about podiatry for children and should be great for other parents with active kids.