Plantars Fasciitis – Symptoms, Cause and Cure

Planters fasciitis is a disorder originating from the plantar fascia, which is the tissue that connects your toes to your heel bone. For individuals that are experiencing pain and discomfort in the heel area, plantars fasciitis is the most common cause. It most often occurs in the feet of joggers, pregnant women, and overweight individuals. Not wearing shoes that provide your feet with support can also cause pain from plantars fasciitis.

 

How Do You Know if You Have Plantars Fasciitis?

 

The symptoms that a person with plantars fasciitis will feel are quite simple and definitely noticeable. If you experience a stabbing pain in your heel after standing for long periods of time or immediately after standing up from sitting, you are probably suffering from this common disorder.

Anyone can feel random, similar painful symptoms such as the ones associated with plantars fasciitis. It is when these pains continue and become frequent that you should be concerned and take action to correct the situation.

This disorder is not one that occurs immediately but rather develops slowly and gradually over an extended period of time. Probably the symptom that will confirm, in your mind, that you are having trouble with plantars fasciitis is when each morning after getting out of bed and taking the first few steps of the day you get the stabbing pains in your heel.

You may experience pain in one heel at a time, or both together. This varies from person-to-person, so what one individual experiences may not be the norm for another that is having trouble with their plantar fascia tissue.

 

What Causes Plantars Fasciitis?

 

The plantar fascia was made to stretch and then absorb shock from walking or running, much like a rubber band, in the arches of your feet. If too much pressure or shock is exerted upon this tissue, it can tear.

It is this repetitive tearing that causes the pain that a plantars fasciitis sufferer experiences. As the plantar fascia continues to be irritated after being torn, the pain will become more noticeable and intense.

There are a few groups of people that are more likely to develop plantars fasciitis. These people are dancers, runners, workers that are on their feet most of the day, the obese, individuals over 40 years old, and women in general.

You should also make sure that the shoes you wear have adequate arch support, as not having this can contribute to plantars fasciitis. Also, women that wear high heels all the time will cause their Achilles tendon to become shortened, which in turn will cause more stress and strain to the heel’s tissues.

 

Is There a Cure for Plantars Fasciitis?

 

Technically, a cure is not needed. There are simple things that you can do to aid your body in correcting this disorder on its own. On average, 90% of individuals with plantars fasciitis will recover completely within a few short months by doing them.

In order to rid yourself of the pain, you will need to work on strengthening the muscles surrounding the plantar fascia tissue, which includes the ankle, heel and lower leg muscles, as well as stretching them. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy, orthotic shoes, or maybe a night splint to wear while you sleep to stretch the muscles out.

In the meantime, you may wish to take ibuprofen to help with the pain and inflammation. Plantars fasciitis is a condition that can be treated easily, and you will be on your way to pain-free walking in no time!