Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, the most common heel pain, causes an intense tenderness on the bottom of your heel. If you develop this symptom, visit a Capital Foot & Ankle office in Sacramento, Roseville, or Folsom, California. Their highly skilled foot doctors offer complete plantar fasciitis care, from night splints to plantar release surgery. Call Capital Foot & Ankle today or book an appointment online to benefit from the team’s expertise in treating plantar fasciitis.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis affects the thick, fibrous band of connective tissue that runs along the sole of your foot. This band (the plantar fascia) runs from your heel to your toes, supporting the foot’s arch. If the plantar fascia comes under excessive strain, inflammation can develop, resulting in plantar fasciitis.

Anyone can get plantar fasciitis, but certain things increase your risk. These include:

• Structural foot abnormalities
• High arches
• Flat feet
• Excess body weight
• Spending extended periods on your feet
• Walking and running on hard ground
• Wearing unsupportive footwear

Ballet pumps, flip-flops, and other shoes with no arch support can strain the plantar fascia. Old, worn sneakers and shoes that don’t fit properly also fail to support the arches, increasing strain on the plantar fascia.

What symptoms does plantar fasciitis cause?

The primary plantar fasciitis symptom is pain at the bottom of your heel. This pain is likely to be worse when you first move around after sitting or lying down — many people experience severe pain when they get up in the morning.

After you walk around for a while, the pain eases and might even go away. But if you keep moving or stay on your feet for long, the pain returns, often making walking unbearably uncomfortable.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

The Capital Foot & Ankle team diagnoses plantar fasciitis after discussing your symptoms and completing a foot exam. They also have in-office X-ray machines to quickly examine the structures in your foot and ankle. In addition to confirming the diagnosis, they can see if you have other problems like heel spurs.

These bony growths sometimes grow near weak or damaged joints. Your body produces them to strengthen the weakened area, but they often cause problems by irritating surrounding soft tissues.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

You can ease plantar fasciitis pain at home with anti-inflammatory medication and apply ice packs to soothe the inflamed plantar fascia. Rest the foot as much as possible, and always wear supportive shoes or boots.

If your symptoms don’t quickly improve, call Capital Foot & Ankle without delay. Early treatment results in the best outcomes and avoids the need for surgery. Treatments your foot doctor could recommend include:

• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises
• Custom-fitted orthotic insoles
• Foot strapping and taping 
• Night splints
• Removable casts
• Corticosteroid injections

These treatments relieve pressure on the plantar fascia and reduce inflammation, giving it time to heal. If they don’t work, you’ll probably need plantar release surgery. This procedure involves cutting the tissues to ease the strain on your plantar fascia.

Call Capital Foot & Ankle today or book an appointment online to receive effective relief from plantar fasciitis symptoms.