Many people experience pain in their heels or along the bottoms of their feet when first getting out of bed in the morning or when first stretching their feet with regular activity. If you experience sharp pain in your heel after extensive stretching or flexing of your foot, you may have a condition called plantar fasciitis. Consult with your doctor of physical therapist for a diagnosis and treatment.
Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes, which forms the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis as a condition in which the plantar fascia becomes inflamed due to small tears in the fascia. The tears and inflammation are a result of the thick band being overstretched or overused.
Risk Factors
Many factors influence the likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis, including age, sex, the exercise performed, obesity, occupation and shoes. It is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60. Women are more likely to suffer from plantar fasciitis than men, and activities that put a lot of stress on the heel, such as ballet dancing, dance aerobics and long-distance running, are more likely to cause heel pain. Heavier people and those in occupations that involve prolonged standing and walking are also at a higher risk for developing this painful condition. Finally, shoes that have thin soles or lack support for your arches are more likely to contribute to plantar fasciitis.
Symptoms
Usually, plantar fasciitis affects just one foot. Symptoms tend to develop gradually over time, but one noticeable symptom occurs when a person gets out of bed and experiences a stabbing pain in the bottom of her foot near her heel. This pain continues for the first few steps but then normally fades away. Some stretching exercises tend to exacerbate the pain.
Treatment
The best treatment for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis is physical therapy, night splinting and orthotics. Any stretchesshould involve the gastroc, the soleu and the intrinsic muscles of your foot. Approximately 90 percent of people who suffer from plantar fasciitis recover within a few months without surgery.
