Jason Gluckman asked:

Of the many causes of plantar fasciitis, one out of the most prevalent is an improperly fitted shoe. It is very important to pay attention to having an appropriate shoe for daily use and for sports.

A badly fitting shoe can cause painful problems in the feet, especially for athletes, and can lead to plantar fasciitis. Shoes having inadequate cushioning at the heel and the forefoot and lacking in proper support around the arch and the middle of the foot may put a lot of stress on the plantar fascia while running, jumping or exercising. Excessive pressure and stress result in pain and inflammation in the plantar fascia.

Shoes specially designed for the patients of plantar fasciitis are available and do not require additional orthotics for pain relief. These shoes come with all the built-in features to provide relief from pain and also help to overcome the deficiency in the biomechanics of the feet. Those experiencing plantar fasciitis due to abnormal gait or flat feet may use motion-controlled shoes. These shoes are designed to be heavy and inflexible, with thick heels and dual-density midsoles in order to correct the walking style of a person. These shoes are built upon a straight last

A more flexible shoe with a relatively lesser dual-density midsole and heel than the motion-controlled shoes are available for people with less severe problems. These are called stability shoes and are built upon a semi-curved last.

People suffering from planar fasciitis owing to high arches may buy shoes that are flexible and well cushioned with soft midsole. These shoes have a semi-curved or a curved last.

While buying a walking shoe, a plantar fasciitis patient must see that the shoe does not have a high heel and always bends at the ball of the foot and not at any other place. Moreover, when pushed downwards at the toe, the heel must lift upwards from a level surface. A good shoe is one that provides adequate arch support, is sufficiently cushioned both at the heels and the midsole, and is flexible. The shoe should blend with the natural walking motion of the wearer.

For a plantar fasciitis patient, it would be beneficial to get expert advice from a technical shoe store salesperson who would weigh all the factors including the weight, stride, gait, and walking distance before suggesting the right shoe. The best shoe is the one that gives the greatest walking comfort.

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Brad Walker asked:

Plantar Fasciitis is a common athletic foot injury. While runners are most likely to suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, any athlete whose sport involves intensive use of the feet may be vulnerable. The risk of this injury increases in athletes who have a particularly high arch, or uneven leg length, though improper biomechanics of the athlete’s gait and simple overuse tend to be the primary culprits.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis refers to a type of foot injury which is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick, fibrous band running along the sole of the foot. Such inflammation results from direct injury to the plantar fascia, usually, repeated trauma to the tissue where the fascia attaches to the calcaneus or heel bone. The plantar fascia is critical in maintaining the foot’s complex arch system, also playing a role in balance and fine control of certain phases of the athlete’s gait.

Injury to the plantar fascia is particularly painful and disabling for runners and can often prove stubbornly resistant to treatment. Rehabilitation is frequently a lengthy and frustrating process. For these reasons, care should be taken where possible to avoid such injury by means of preventative exercises and sensitivity to early warning signs.

Anatomy involved

A non-elastic band of fibrous tissue – he plantar fascia – runs along the bottom or plantar surface of the foot. It attaches to the calcaneus or heel bone, (the largest bone in the foot), fanning out and attaching to the metatarsal bones around the ball of the foot, at the base of the toes. Tension in the plantar fascia acts to maintain the arch of the foot.

Most commonly, the plantar fascia is injured at its attachment point on the medial tubercle of the calcaneus. During running, the arch of the foot flattens during the pronation phase, allowing the foot to absorb shock as it makes contact with the ground. Repetitive trauma to this tissue can produce micro tears, the signature of plantar fasciitis. Pain usually develops on the calcaneus of the foot.

What causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis foot injury generally occurs over time, rather than being the result of a single event. Micro trauma from repetitive stress to the tissue often combines with a biomechanical deficiency of the foot to produce the condition. In addition, arthritic and metabolic factors may contribute to the development of this injury, (though they are unlikely to affect young athletes). A variety of training errors commonly lead to plantar fasciitis, particularly a rapid increase in either volume or intensity of athletic activity. Volume refers to the distance or time an athlete performs, while intensity refers to the pace of activity and/or the recovery time allowed following performance.

Training on improper, hard and/or irregular surfaces as well as excessive track work in spiked shoes, or steep hill running, can stress the plantar fascia past its limits of elasticity, leading to foot injury. Finally, failure in the early season to warm up gradually gives the athlete insufficient time for the structures of the foot to re-acclimate and return to a proper fitness level for intensive exercise. Such unprepared and repeated trauma causes microscopic tearing, which may only be detected once full-blown plantar fasciitis and accompanying pain and debilitation have resulted.

If the level of damage to the plantar fascia is significant, an inflammatory reaction of the heel bone can produce spike-like projections of new bone, known as heel spurs. Indeed, plantar fasciitis has occasionally been refereed to as heel spur syndrome, though such spurs are not the cause of the initial pain but are instead a further symptom of the problem. While such spurs are sometimes painless, in other cases they cause pain or disability in the athlete, and surgical intervention to remove them may be required. A dull, intermittent pain in the heel is typical, sometimes progressing to a sharp, sustained discomfort. Commonly, pain is worse in the morning or after sitting, later decreasing as the patient begins walking, though standing or walking for long periods usually brings renewal of the pain.

Certain preconditions favor the development of the foot injury plantar fasciitis. These include genetic predisposition, excessive rigidity in the feet, overly high arches, (or by contrast, flat feet), and running on the toes or in very soft surfaces such as sand. Finally, improper footwear, particularly with insufficient arch support, is a recipe for injury.

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Jason Gluckman asked:

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a tough fibrous band of tissue that runs from the heel bone to the base of the toes. Excessive stretching of plantar fascia through physical activities like running and jumping or from natural causes such as flat feet, high arches or overpronation (feet rolling in or flattening) leads to the development of tears in the plantar fascia. These tears in the plantar fascia result in symptoms of pain and inflammation.

The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is the feeling of acute pain in the inner side of the heel. If an intense pain is felt in the heel on taking the first few steps in the morning, then it is most likely a case of plantar fasciitis. The pain eases as the day progresses because the plantar fascia gradually stretches due to warming up of the feet. Sometimes, the pain may start as a dull pain in the heel and the arch and may later accentuate to a sharp, persisting pain. Patients suffering from plantar fasciitis may also find climbing stairs or walking on the toes very painful.

The pain is also noticed when an individual resumes walking or standing after a long rest. For those who routinely exercise, pain that may disappear at the beginning may return after the completion of the exercise. The other symptoms that are generally associated with plantar fasciitis are tenderness in the heel and tightness in the calf muscles.

There are certain other conditions that may be confused with the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is one among them. A stress fracture of the heel bone, ruptured plantar fascia, rheumatological conditions, wearing down of the heel fat pad and problems with the circulation can cause pain in the heel. The doctor must be consulted if the pain persists for a long time, and the right cause of the pain must be diagnosed.

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Allan Tan asked:

Plantar fasciitis is a common, painful foot condition and is an inflammation of the ligament that connects the heel to the base of the toes. It happens when the plantar fascia becomes too inflamed.

The pain becomes evident during day time. This is because of the fact that the fascia contracts over the night while you sleep. Although there may be times when you won’t feel any pain, it is only a temporary thing. Once you stand up for long periods or you get up from a long time of sitting down, the pain may strike once more.

There are several factors which can cause plantar fasciitis and these are as follows:

1) Overdoing strenuous physical activities

2) Moving heavy objects

3) Arthritis

4) Diabetes

5) Abnormal foot mobility

6) Poor quality of footwear

Plantar fasciitis can affect both feet, but it usually happens on just one foot. The illness also develops gradually and only becomes evident once unbearable heel pain is felt. However, this illness definitely has several symptoms, which you should take a tab on so that you can prevent it from becoming a major medical condition. These are the following symptoms associated with this illness:

1) A stabbed-like feeling on the bottom of your foot

2) A progressive heel pain experienced as soon as you wake up and walk to go about your early morning activities or even after doing exercise

3) Heel pain experienced after standing for a long period of time or when getting up from sitting down for over a time

4) Some swelling observed in the middle part of your heel

Once you experience these symptoms, it would be wise to note how often they occur and then proceed to consult your doctor.

As you seek medical attention, your doctor will first verify all the symptoms, which you may have experienced. The podiatrist will also point out to you the tender areas found on your foot. This is necessary so that other factors causing heel pain can be ruled out. Other than physical examination, your podiatrist can also schedule a foot X-ray or even an MRI to see if you have got a stress fracture.

Treating plantar fasciitis is actually quite simple. All it takes is proper discipline and close monitoring of treatment regimen issued by the doctor.

For self-care treatments, here are the usual recommended procedures:

Night splint: This is usually done by enclosing your foot up to your calf within a splint as you sleep. The purpose of this is to hold your foot tissues as well as your Achilles tendon so that it can be stretched overnight.

Orthotics: This is an arch support, which works by distributing the pressure absorbed by your feet evenly on all areas.

Physical therapy: Rehabilitative exercises can strengthen your leg muscles and help make your heel and ankle more stabilized to absorb pressure.

If your plantar fasciitis condition is diagnosed as severe, you can use other medical methods, to help you alleviate pain and treat the foot.

Corticosteroids: your podiatrist will suggest this medicine if other forms of treatment are not efficient in treating it. This works by injecting a couple doses within your fascia area to alleviate pain. At times, iontophoresis can also be conducted instead of injecting corticosteroids. The medicine is distributed within the fascia are using electric current gently induced to relieve the pain.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy: This method uses sound waves as a means of stimulating the healing process of the affected area. If the plantar fasciitis has been diagnosed as a chronic illness, this is the treatment method being adopted.

Surgery: When one undergoes surgery for planta fasciitis, the plantar fascia is removed from the heel bone. This is the final option and is only turned to when other methods can no longer take away the heel pain and the condition becomes too severe to handle.

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Raymond Aaron asked:

Plantar Fasciitis is an extreme pain usually in the middle of one or both of the heels of your feet. The pain is excruciating and the disabling impact is huge. The pain is exactly life walking with the point of a nail sticking straight into the middle of your heel. And, it is even worse in the morning, as you take your first step. Even more bad news is that it can last your whole lifetime if not treated correctly. Do it right!

What is the cause?

Possible causes of plantar fasciitis are:

… obesity

… prolonged standing

… mechanical imbalances

… arthritis

… tight calf muscles

… shoes with poor support.

What is the cure?

Here’s what is usually done to cure Plantar Fasciitis:

… ice the sore area

… get custom-made orthotics for your shoes

… massage of the area

… exercises to strengthen the foot

… non-steroid and anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your doctor

… steroid injections if prescribed by and executed by your doctor

… wear a night splint which holds your foot crooked at the ankle all night

… avoid walking or running or standing

What practitioners should you see?

… Medical Doctors? Yes. See above for their treatments.

… Massage Therapists? Yes, but the treatment must be exclusively in the sore area

… Acupuncturist? Yes, this is highly recommended.

The Only Procedure that worked for me

The process is called Shock Wave Therapy. It is conducted usually by a chiropractor who has this equipment. The machine delivers shocks to the sore area which, to the patient, feel exactly like being whacked really hard by a hammer right at the excruciatingly sore area. The protocol is 2,000 whacks per treatment. The pain is horrid. I yelled throughout my treatments. The good news is that this process totally cured my Plantar Fasciitis in 5 treatments and it has not recurred. Usually the total cure is in 3 treatments, with huge relief after just one treatment. Find a chiropractor in your area with a machine to do Shock Wave Therapy.

Best of success curing this dastardly affliction.

Why do you want to cure it? Why do you want to live a pain-free life? Why do you want to be healthy? It is because you want something more for yourself.

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Jerry Herndon asked:

What is plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition affecting the bottom of the foot. This condition is fairly common and can last months or years-or it may be intermittent throughout ones life.

The plantar fascia is a flat ligament that stretches from the heel to the toes. It is mainly responsible for supporting the arch of the foot.

If the plantar fascia is strained, either by everyday use or athletics, it becomes swollen and inflamed.

Those more likely to develop plantar fasciitis include women, the overweight, athletes (particularly those that have tight calf muscles because this restricts the ankles from flexing properly), and those whose jobs keep them on their feet. Flat feet, high arches, or improperly fitting shoes also help to contribute to this painful condition.

When a person develops planter fasciitis the first thing they will notice is extreme pain in the bottom of the foot or the heel when they first stand or walk. Not every patient will experience this pain upon rising-others may notice it when they first attempt an activity. The pain is usually felt in the front or bottom of the heel. The pain may ease as the day goes on, or instead, pain may increase with use.

X-rays, or other tests, are usually not used to determine the presence of plantar fasciitis. However, an orthopedist or podiatrist may request diagnostic testing to rule out any other more severe cause of the heel pain. If plantar fasciitis is not treated it may lead to larger problems in the skeletal structure. Improper use of the foot when walking can cause hip and back problems to develop as a consequence.

There are many treatment options available for plantar fasciitis. They include rest, arch support or orthotics to be worn inside the shoes, stretching and strengthening exercises, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. More advanced treatments include night splints to stabilize the ankle while sleeping, steroid injections, and surgery.

plantar fasciitis

Jason Gluckman asked:

Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which a person develops intense pain at the inner side of the heel. It occurs as a result of inflammation of the tough fibrous tissue known as plantar fascia. During rest, the plantar fascia contracts back to its original shape. As soon as weight is put on the feet, the fascia begins to stretch due to the collapsing of the arch. This results in intense pain in the heel.

Plantar fasciitis socks are specially designed to give arch support and provide relief from the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. The socks hold the feet in a neutral to gently stretched position and do not allow the plantar fascia to contract in a position of sleep. This not only eliminates the pain felt during the first few morning steps but also in some cases speeds up the recovery time for plantar fasciitis.

Makers of plantar fasciitis socks claim that they provide an inexpensive and easy to use method of pain relief. The socks can be worn for several hours at a stretch without causing any harmful effects. Wearing them during the night does not disturb sleep, if they are worn as per the instructions. Additionally, the use of socks does not interfere with the other ongoing treatment of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis socks act as a supplementary treatment to provide relief from the pain; they do not, however, help to cure the condition of plantar fasciitis.

Diabetic patients, pregnant women, individuals who have recently undergone foot surgery, people with circulatory problems or with severe dermatitis, as well as those with swelling or hammer toes must consult their physician before using this product.

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Jason Gluckman asked:

The problem of plantar fasciitis is commonly seen among runners, people who are overweight, people with flat feet or high arches, or those who stand on their feet for long hours doing their jobs. In most cases, non-surgical treatment can help a person to get rid of the problem. The duration, as well as the nature, of treatment may vary from one patient to the other. While it may take six weeks for some, it might take longer than six months for others to get effectively cured.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis should be initiated immediately upon occurrence of the problem. This helps in getting rid of the problem in a very short time. Delay may cause the problem to become aggravated and may require more than six months for the problem to heal.

Treatment in the initial stages includes adequate rest, applying ice to the area of pain after routine activities, some gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to relax the tissues and anti-inflammatory medicines for relief from pain. Wearing of night splints is also recommended to keep the tissues gently stretched during the night to relieve the patient from the painful experience of the first morning steps.

For some, different types of shoe insert–called orthotics–may have to be used after evaluation of their routine activities to lessen their pain. The shoes must, however, adequately support the orthoses to bring about the desired results. In cases where the patients do not respond to the conventional treatments mentioned above, the physicians may use cortisone injections to relieve the pain. But physicians do not often prefer cortisones because of their noted side effects in some patients.

Doctors recommend surgery as an alternative to those patients whose pain persists even after months of conventional treatment. A majority of the patients have reported relief from pain after surgery. Surgery is seen as a last resort because of its possible complications.

In recent years, there has been an emergence of a new kind of treatment called the Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT). ESWT involves low-energy shockwave treatment or high-energy shockwave treatment. The shockwave therapy stimulates the repair process of the injured tissues and relieves the patients from the symptoms of plantar fasciitis.

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Fred Salomon asked:

Plantar fasciitis is a

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