Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition caused by an inflamed ligament-like band in the foot.

This band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, runs from the ball of your foot to your heel. Its purpose is to support your arch and absorb shock. When the plantar fascia becomes strained, pain can occur.

Plantar fasciitis usually causes pain in the heel or along the inside of your foot where your arch and heel meet. But, pain can develop anywhere along the bottom of your foot where the plantar fascia is inflamed. Besides pain, you might also experience tenderness, stiffness, or soles that are swollen or warm to the touch.

Plantar fasciitis pain is usually worse after you’ve been off your feet for extended periods of time, especially upon waking in the morning. It can also lead to other foot problems, such as heel spurs and bursitis.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis often develops because of strain or overuse. This type of stress causes small tears to form in the plantar fascia, leading to inflammation.

Common causes of plantar fasciitis include:

• Being overweight
• Walking and running
• Foot structure or gait
• Playing sports with a lot of jumping
• Exercises that stress the feet
• Inadequate or poor quality footwear
• Long hours of walking or standing on hard surfaces

Your risks of developing plantar fasciitis are higher when you’re active and between 40-70 years of age.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

After reviewing your symptoms, Dr. Rambacher typically diagnoses plantar fasciitis after physically examining your feet. During your appointment, he looks for:

• Inflamed tendons
• Damaged ligaments
• Incorrect foot movement
• Displaced bones or joints
• Signs of redness or swelling

In some cases, Dr. Rambacher might recommend X-rays to identify other potential issues like heel spurs or a stress fracture in your heel bone.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Dr. Rambacher wants to ease your pain so that you can return to your active lifestyle as quickly as possible. To accomplish that, he offers a variety of treatments including:

• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Ice to reduce inflammation and pain
• Foot taping to support the arch and control movement
• Custom-made orthotics to minimize strain on the plantar fascia
• Surgical treatments to release plantar fascia tension

Additional methods that can help ease plantar fasciitis pain include losing weight, avoiding running or walking on hard floors or uneven ground, and wearing shoes with arch support.

Call Podiatry Hotline Inc. or schedule an appointment online to see Dr. Rambacher for plantar fasciitis treatment.