Dealing with heel pain? You could just have plantar fasciitis.
If you are dealing with sudden heel pain, our Clinton, MD, podiatrists are here to tell you what might be going on and what they can do to relieve your pain.
What is plantar fasciitis?
There is a thick band of tissue that runs under the soles of your feet from the heel bone to the toes. This band of tissue is known as the plantar fascia. This ligament can become inflamed if it’s been overworked or strained, which often happens in you suddenly increase the intensity or duration of your workout regimen. When the ligament develops microtears and becomes inflamed this is known as plantar fasciitis.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain. In fact, this condition is the number one cause of heel pain. The pain may even radiate to the arches of your feet. Often times, plantar fasciitis-related heel pain will be worse in the morning or after periods of rest.
You may find that the pain dissipates throughout the day and you may not even notice discomfort during physical activity but the moment you take a break this is when the pain sets in. Along with foot pain, you may notice that the heel is tender, swollen or stiff.
How do you treat plantar fasciitis?
Luckily, this condition can often be treated with simple at-home measures. As our Clinton, MD, foot doctors will tell you, one of the most important things you can do is rest and be kind to your feet. Sure, we know that it can be difficult to take time to rest (particularly if you are on vacation and wanting to sightsee) but it’s important to prop those feet up often throughout the day and give them a break.
When you do have to move around it’s crucial that you wear shoes that provide proper support, stability and shock absorption, particularly around the arches and heel. In some cases, we can also make a prescription orthotic to place inside the shoes to offer additional support and cushioning while your foot heals. Some people also find relief from their symptoms by just bracing or splinting the foot.
We can also show you a variety of foot exercises that you can perform multiple times a day to ease symptoms, prevent flare-ups and to strengthen and stretch out the muscles, ligaments and other soft tissues of the feet.
Don’t let foot pain ruin your day-to-day life. If you are having trouble getting your foot pain under control then it’s time to turn to the foot care specialists at Family Foot and Ankle Associates of Maryland. We offer comprehensive podiatric services throughout the Olney, Clinton, Kensington and Silver Spring, MD, areas.