What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis (or heel pain) is a common pain felt on the bottom of your feet. The pain typically occurs on the fibrous tissue (plantar fascia) that runs between the balls of your feet and your heel. The pain tends to be the worst in the morning or after physical activity and can range from dull aching pain to sharp intense pain.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
According to many studies, active men and women between 35 and 65 are the most at risk for developing plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common foot problems among adults. Daily wear and tear, overuse, improper footwear, and genetic issues (i.e. flat feet or high arches) all contribute to the issue. Poor flexibility of your calf muscles or Achilles tendon can contribute as well. The risk is exacerbated if you’re overweight or obese, as this adds increased pressure on the plantar fascia.
How do I treat plantar fasciitis?
There are a few options to treat plantar fasciitis, they all differ in invasiveness, effectiveness and cost. Common treatments include:
- Stretching
- Massaging
- Icing
- Shoe inserts
- anti-inflammatories (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, ect.)
If thiese don’t help, more advanced treatment may be required. These can include:
Plantar fasciitis surgery – Surgery is the most dramatic form of treatment. It should only be done in the most severe cases where the pain is so severe you can barely walk. In the surgery, the surgeon partially detaches the plantar fascia from your heel bone. This reduces tension which reduces pain, but weakens the overall strength of your foot and arch. Consult a licensed physician if this is an option for you.
Cortisol Injections – A doctor can have corticosteroid injected into the damaged area of the plantar fascia. This will help ease the pain but will wear off over time and does not treat the underlying issues.
Physical Therapy – By far the most effective treatment for plantar fasciitis is physical therapy. Assisted and manual exercises focused on stretching and strengthening your plantar fascia and the surrounding muscle and tissue will provide the most long-term benefit. See our products below on inexpensive and effective tools that can aide in self-recovery. The tools help provide a deeper stretch and massage that can’t be replicated otherwise.