How often do you practice foot care? You should maintain routine foot care to keep off health issues and enhance proper feet functions. Our feet support our movement and hence we should never underestimate their importance. So, wash them daily, exfoliate and moisturize, massage, and most importantly wear comfortable fitting shoes. Midtown East plantar fasciitis specialists at Precision Footcare provide you with quality foot care to enhance your feet’ health. Continue reading to explore plantar fasciitis, its causes, and treatments.
What is plantar fasciitis?
It is a foot condition that occurs due to the damage and inflammation of the plantar fascia. Plantar fascia involves a group of tissues that run across your foot’s bottom.
It functions as a shock absorber and offers protection to the foot’s arch. When the tissue is put under too much pressure, it causes inflammation, tears, and chronic pain in your heel. Plantar fasciitis pain worsens after an exercise or when waking up. It’s severe when it affects your mobility.
The condition does not affect the heel only but can occur to any part of your foot bottom.
Plantar fasciitis can occur in anyone; but is more common in athletes, including runners. You are at risk of developing plantar fasciitis if you are older and have excessive weight. People who work for extended periods on their feet are also prone to plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis diagnosis
Your provider at Precision Footcare, Dr. Jurcisin, carries out a thorough diagnosis to identify the exact causes of heel pain. A physical exam on your foot may be enough to diagnose plantar fasciitis. He also asks about your symptoms, including the location of the pain.
The diagnosis also involves imaging tests, including an X-ray to confirm some foot pain causes such as bone spurs or fractures. Your provider also assesses your medical history and asks about your daily activities to precisely determine your source of pain.
Dr. Jurcisin takes his time to identify what caused your plantar fascia damage. He offers helpful information and resources to prevent further damage in the future.
Treating plantar fasciitis
Stretching exercises and over-the-counter medications can help you find pain relief. Besides, you may want to take a break or limit your physical activities to allow your feet to rest and heal.
If your pain does not improve from rest, your provider may recommend orthotics, including custom shoe inserts, night splints, padding, or a removable walking cast. They help relieve pressure off your feet, allowing stabilization. Other additional treatments include physical therapy and steroid injections.
In most cases, you are likely to find healing with nonsurgical treatments. But when your symptoms do not respond to conservative treatments, your provider may use surgery to remove the tension and minimize inflammation. The surgery promotes healing, eliminates pain, and restores your mobility.
The feet incur so much pressure from daily life activities, including mobility. The pressure may cause damage to your foot plantar fascia precisely, causing discomfort. Plantar fasciitis develops when your plantar fascia has damage causing pain and inflammation. Taking a rest and some stretching exercises can help relieve the pressure. Other treatments include physical therapy, medications, steroid injections, orthotics, and surgery. Call Precision Footcare today to book your appointment.
