Is The Pain in Your Heel Plantar Fasciitis?

Pain in the heel area of the foot can be caused by a few different issues. However, the most common of these issues is plantar fasciitis. Per Harvard Health Publishing, "plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a fibrous band of tissue on the bottom of the foot that helps to support the arch, is overloaded or overstretched. With overuse or over time, the fascia loses some of its elasticity or resilience and can become inflamed, resulting in pain." This condition affects millions of active people worldwide every year. So today, we will talk about how to recognize the symptoms, what led to the injury in the first place.

So, what are the common symptoms of plantar fasciitis? You can typically identify this condition by a few gradual symptoms, or sudden intense conditions which are felt immediately (usually as a result of intense activity). These symptoms include pain on the bottom of the foot/heel, tenderness in the heel area, stiffness of the foot, increase in foot pain after physical activity, pain radiating into the arch of the foot, potential swelling around the heel, and pain in the heel being noticeably worse when you first get up in the morning.

According to a peer-reviewed article from Dr. Surangi Mendis, FRCGP, "The pain is often worst when you take your first steps on getting up in the morning, or after long-term rest where no weight is placed on your foot. Often, it's described as a stabbing or aching pain. Gentle exercise may ease things a little as the day goes by." "Sudden stretching of the bottom of your foot may make the pain worse - for example, walking up stairs or on tiptoes. You may limp because of pain. Some people have plantar fasciitis in both feet at the same time." These are the likely ways of indicating you are dealing with plantar fasciitis, but what was the initial cause that led to this pain?

Per Sports Injury Clinic, the pain from plantar fasciitis "involves inflammation or degeneration of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue supporting the arch of your foot." This is most commonly caused by cases of overuse. Certain situations can also increase your chances of developing it, such as an increased amount of time on your feet, running on a harder surface than your used to, wearing shoes with poor cushion support, tightness in the achilles, or sudden stretching of the sole of the foot. Health conditions such as flat feet, obesity, and high arch feet can also be causes.

Certain sports and activities can be more likely to lead to plantar fasciitis too. An article from Health Direct lists running, dancing, aerobics, and athletics involving jumping as activities which commonly have a higher chance of leading to plantar fasciitis due to increased strain around the heel bone.

If you believe you've developed plantar fasciitis, there are a few different types of treatment routes that can be taken. The key parts of healing from plantar fasciitis are protecting your foot, whilst reducing inflammation of the fascia. Treatment options can range from cold therapy like icing, taping, footwear protection like heel pads or orthotic insoles, a night splint/sock, massaging the affected area, electrotherapy, and anti-inflammatory medications. Alternate methods could include analyzing your technique when walking or running, and more serious treatment like a PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injection, or even surgery if severe enough. Per Health Direct, "If you have symptoms of plantar fasciitis that last for longer than 8 weeks, see your doctor. They can diagnose your condition and advise you on the best treatment. If needed, they can refer you to a specialist." Your medical professional will perform a physical exam to determine the severity of your symptoms, and extent of your injury. This may include doing imaging tests like x-rays, ultrasounds, or an MRI. Depending on the determined severity of the injury, recovery time can range from 4-6 weeks for many minor cases, or 9-12 weeks for injuries which require surgery. A full recovery period can be up to 3-6 months to completely heal.