One of the most commonly treated ailments in a podiatrist’s offices is heel pain. Heel pain is frequently associated with participation in high-impact sports and other activities like running, basketball, tennis, and football. Sports aren’t the only cause. Even walking on hard pavement all day can bring about heel pain. One of the most common causes of heel pain is a condition called plantar fasciitis.
If you squeeze the arch of your foot you will feel the plantar fascia. It is a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects to the heel. Since it forms the structure of your arch, it carries all the weight and force of your movements. It can become irritated and torn or inflamed causing severe pain in the arch and heel areas of the foot. People with high arches and those with tight calf muscles are more susceptible to developing plantar fasciitis.
When measures are taken right away after an injury, plantar fasciitis will respond well to treatment involving the RICE protocol: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Stretching and strengthening the calf muscles and wearing properly fitted footwear with custom orthotic inserts will also provide healing and pain relief.
A variety of physical therapy exercises can also be helpful in strengthening and stretching the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that hold the plantar fascia together. Regular stretching of the calf muscles is vitally important in preventing and treating plantar fasciitis.
If you are experiencing the debilitating heel pain of plantar fasciitis, we highly recommend that you consult our board-certified podiatrists for the proper care. At Fit Feet for Life, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including heel pain, sports injuries, toe deformities, nail fungus, and plantar warts. Bonnie Sanchez, DPM, and Gregory Cook, DPM, provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area at our five offices conveniently located in Sun City Center, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and our two Tampa locations. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.