Plantar Fasciitis: Treatment and Prevention of a Common Foot Issue

Millions of people suffer from plantar fasciitis. This common foot issue is extremely painful and can be very frustrating to manage. Do you suffer from plantar fasciitis? Have you found a successful treatment and are trying to prevent your plantar fasciitis from coming back? Keep reading to learn about treatment and prevention of plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis involves the inflamation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel to the toes. This band supports the arch of your foot. The swelling and irritation is often most painful in the morning but can cause great discomfort throughout the day.

Treating plantar fasciitis involves several components.  As always, consult a physician such as a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon, to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Some symptoms could be attributed to other foot or heel issues.

If you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, consider the following steps to alleviate the painful irritation.

• Reduce inflamation with the use of ice and a nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drug (NSAID) such as Advil or Ibuprofren. When applying ice to the irritated area, remember to never apply it directly to the skin. Use a cloth or towel as a barrier to prevent harming the tissue.
• Rest your feet. This might seem like an impossible treatment approach. Avoiding the use of your feet is not practical for most of us. However, avoiding running or walking on hard surfaces as much as possible is your best bet.
• When you do have to walk, make sure you are wearing the appropriate footwear. Try to wear athletic shoes with good arch support throughout the day. Even when you are at home, it is important to wear shoes any time when you are walking to provide proper stability to your feet.
• In addition to the right shoes, wearing orthotics is a great way to provide comfort and support for your heel.
• An orthopaedic surgeon can recommend simple exercises and stretches to do daily in the comfort of your own home.
• If noninvasive treatment does not improve your condition, injections of cortisone or platelet rich plasma, may help alleviate the pain.

If you are focused on trying to prevent a recurrence of plantar fasciitis, consider taking the following steps:

• Put on supportive shoes first thing in the morning and continue wearing them any time you are walking.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. Attaining the ideal weight for your age and height can be a daunting task. However, preventing plantar fasciitis is not the only benefit having a healthy body weight. Your overall health will improve if you are able to stay within your preferred weight range.
• If you have to be on your feet for a significant amount of time during the day, consider orthotics for your shoes. Avoid wearing old, worn out shoes.