Have you ever taken a step after testing and had to pause because of sudden pain in your heel? Or maybe you stand all day at work and afterward you feel a burning ache on the bottom of your foot? Chances are that if you frequently experience this sort of pain, you may be one of the millions of people afflicted with Plantar Fasciitis. This issue is extremely common among all age groups and although it isn’t debilitating, it sure isn’t fun to deal with.
So what happened to your foot to cause this heel pain? Well, simply put, plantar fasciitis refers to an inflammation in the tissue running along the bottom of your foot. The Plantar Fascia is integral to your foot function. It runs from the back of your heel to your toes, supporting your foot’s arch, and acts as a shock absorber as you walk. That thick tissue is as important as the soles of your shoes.
How can you know what is going on when your foot hurts, and how can you know if it’s plantar fasciitis? The symptoms are often pretty easy to spot, especially if you stand, walk, or run often. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include telltale stabbing pain in your heel when you wake up or stand up after sitting for a while. You may also notice this pain after standing for a long time or after working out. If you come home from work or the gym and you feel a sharp pain like you’ve stepped on several Lego bricks, it may be time to come in and talk about your feet.
Plantar fasciitis is a very common issue, and anyone can fall victim to it. Those who are older or runners are often the most susceptible to this unpleasant inflammation, but anyone can find themselves limping from plantar fasciitis’ stabbing pains.
Though it isn’t a life-threatening issue, plantar fasciitis is more than enough to ruin your day and inhibit everyday walking comfort. Lucky for you and the over 3 million other people experiencing this pain each year, there is a myriad of options to treat this issue. The first option is stretching. As mentioned before, the inflammation is usually more noticeable when you wake up or after a workout. Pueblo Ankle and Foot Care recommend stretching in the morning BEFORE you get out of bed.
Stretching is a great first line of defense against plantar fasciitis. The second option is getting custom insoles for your shoes, or ones with a rigid arch. Along the same line, getting proper shoes that have a rigid arch is critical to prevention and relief from plantar fasciitis, not to mention your overall foot health. Another option is getting a steroid injection in your plantar fascia. This will help strengthen the area and help your foot support itself. As with all of these suggestions, the best way to get help is by coming into Pueblo Ankle and Foot Care and having one of our fantastic Pueblo foot doctors find the best solution for you!
