subject: What You Need To Know About Plantar Fasciitis [print this page] Do you feel pain in your heels when you walk or run? Does the pain stop you from maintaining an active lifestyle? If so, you may be suffering from a chronic ankle condition known as plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is the most common type of heel pain and affects millions of people every day. There are a few different causes for this condition and a few different treatments that your Oak Brook podiatrist may recommend to treat it.
What Are The Causes Of Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, the tough band of tissue that runs from your heel to the ball of your foot, becomes strained. This strain will then lead to inflammation and swelling that can cause you nagging pain. Here are a few of the most common causes of plantar fasciitis:
*Excessive walking, running or standing. Being on your feet for a long period of time can put excessive strain on your ankles. Doing this on a daily basis can lead to plantar fasciitis eventually.
*Overweight. If you are overweight, the additional weight can put a strain on your feet and cause plantar fasciitis to develop.
*High arches. Having high arches can put an additional strain on your feet. If you know that you have high arches, you may want to talk to your podiatrist about custom orthotics or getting shoes that fit you correctly.
*Poorly fitting shoes. One of the most common mistakes that people make with their feet is to wear shoes that do not fit them correctly. If your shoes don't provide the proper support, you will be at risk for plantar fasciitis.
Treatment For Plantar Fasciitis
Depending on the severity of the case, there are a few different options for treatment. There is no single treatment that will work for everyone and it is important for you to talk to your Romeoville podiatrist to see what treatment will work best for you. Here are a few of the most common treatments for plantar fasciitis:
*Stay off of your feet. This is the simplest way to avoid foot and ankle pain. If you have a mild case, this may be the only thing you need to do for your symptoms to go away. If there are specific behaviors that are causing you pain, you should try to stop these behaviors.
*Choose shoes that fit you properly. If your shoes don't provide you with the proper amount of support, it is important that you find a pair of shoes that do or get customized orthotics from your podiatrist.
*Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy. Shockwave therapy has become a popular treatment option for plantar fasciitis within the last decade. This works by stimulating healing in the heel and has proven to be successful in the past.
To learn more about plantar fasciitis or to schedule an appointment, contact your Oak Brook podiatrist soon.
