At Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute in Clinton Township, MI, our board-certified podiatrists are experts in treating heel pain and plantar fasciitis. This common condition affects around 10% of Americans at some point in their lives, often causing serious pain and restricting daily activities.
This month, we’re dedicating our blog to plantar fasciitis. We hope this guide helps you understand more about the condition and how you can prevent it from sidelining you.
The plantar fascia is the connective tissue connecting your heel to your toes. This weblike tissue stretches and contracts as you move. Its main roles are absorbing shock, supporting the foot arch, and serving as a kind of spring to balance force properly throughout the foot when you’re walking and running.
Repeated stress on the plantar fascia can cause microscopic tears and inflammation, or plantar fasciitis.
The hallmark sign of plantar fasciitis is heel pain. Although the pain can vary from one person to another, some typical characteristics are:
Studies show that many people with plantar fasciitis develop heel spurs, which are bony projections on the bottom of the heel. However, the heel spurs are usually not the cause of the symptoms; they’re a result of chronic inflammation from plantar fasciitis.
If you think you might have plantar fasciitis symptoms, an appointment with one of our board-certified, fellowship-trained podiatrists at Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute is the next step.
A comprehensive exam, review of your symptoms, and imaging tests (if needed) can definitively answer whether it’s plantar fasciitis or another heel pain-causing condition. Our podiatrists always make plenty of time for each patient, so you leave with both a diagnosis and a clear recovery plan.
Plantar fasciitis is treated with conservative measures and rarely requires surgery. Most people improve with rest, stretching, bracing, anti-inflammatory medication, and other targeted therapies.
These measures work well because they allow the plantar fascia the time and support to heal. For example, a “night splint” is a type of brace that holds your plantar fascia in a stretched position all night. That way, you avoid a sudden extreme stretch when you take your first few steps in the morning, minimizing strain, microtears, and sharp heel pain.
Plantar fasciitis doesn’t have to sideline you long-term, as long as you get help before it gets worse. Our team at Michigan Foot & Ankle Institute is ready to help, so call our office at 586-999-9953 or schedule your appointment online.
