Constant pain is never a good thing, especially when it interferes with your movement, and plantar fasciitis is just that. A nagging heel pain that continues for an extended amount of time, plantar fasciitis hurts the most in the morning and starts to feel better as the day progresses.
Inside the sole of your foot, a dense band of slightly elastic tissue spans the distance between your heel and toes, providing a sheath for the tendons and muscles within. This tissue also provides support for the weight-bearing arch of your foot. Planta is Latin for ‘foot sole’ and Fascia is Latin for ‘band’. Plantar fasciitis is the medical term for inflammation of this band of collagen fibers connecting the heel and toe area of the foot known as the Plantar Fascia.
The signature heel pain of plantar fasciitis is caused by both small and large tears of the plantar fascia. These tears result from the wear and tear of prolonged periods on soles of the feet, particularly from excess weight, from shocks sustained by the repetitive impacts of running and jumping, and from hyperflexion of the plantar fascia beyond its normal range. While our feet are designed to accommodate the occasional stresses of weight and activity that are beyond what we experience normally from day to day, prolonged stress of this type prevents the body’s healing mechanisms from repair of damaged tissue, resulting in a condition that is not only painful in the short-term, but which may worsen if treatment is delayed.
Who is Susceptible to Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis afflicts people with both active and sedentary lifestyles. It can among athletes and runners (“Jogger’s Heel”) or it may strike relatively inactive and sedentary people who are overweight. It sometimes appears during pregnancy, particularly during the later stages. There are numerous mechanisms experienced across a wide range of lifestyles that can result in tears of the plantar fascia.
Remember that foot pain doesn’t automatically mean you have plantar fasciitis. However, our experienced podiatrists can make an assessment of whether or not plantar fasciitis is to blame. No matter the cause, Dr. Brendan McConnel and Dr. Nelson Keller can prescribe the best course of treatment for your relief and healing. Visit us online to schedule an appointment today!
