Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. This tissue is called the plantar fascia. It connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot.

Causes

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot is overstretched or overused. Repeated strain can cause tiny tears in the ligament which lead to pain and swelling and make walking difficult. Risk factors for plantar fasciitis include:

    • Foot arch problems (both flat feet and high arches)
    • Obesity or sudden weight gain
    • Long-distance running, especially running downhill or on uneven surfaces
    • Sudden weight gain
    • Tight Achilles tendon (the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel)
    • Shoes with poor arch support or soft soles.

Plantar fasciitis is common in middle-aged people, but can also occur in younger people who are on their feet a lot, for example athletes or soldiers. It can happen in one foot or both feet and it is one of the most common orthopedic complaints relating to the foot.

Symptoms

The most common complaint is pain and stiffness in the bottom of the heel. The bottom of the foot may also ache or burn.

The pain is usually worse:

    • In the morning when you take your first steps
    • After standing or sitting for a while
    • When climbing stairs
    • After intense activity.

The pain may develop slowly over time, or suddenly after intense activity.

Treatment

Your doctor will usually first recommend:

    • Medication to reduce pain and inflammation
    • Heel stretching exercises
    • Resting as much as possible for at least a week
    • Wearing shoes with good support and cushions.

Other steps to relieve pain include:

    • Applying ice to the painful area, at least twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes
    • Wearing a heel cup, felt pads in the heel area, or shoe inserts
    • Using night splints to stretch the injured fascia and allow it to heal.

If these treatments do not work, your doctor may recommend the following:

    • Wearing a boot cast for 3 to 6 weeks (it can be removed for bathing)
    • Custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics)
    • Steroid shots or injections into the heel.

In a few cases non-surgical treatment may not work and surgery to release the tight tissue becomes necessary.

Prognosis Non-surgical treatments almost always improve the pain. Treatment can last from several months to two years before symptoms get better, but most patients feel better in nine months. Some people may need surgery to relieve the pain.

Prevention

Making sure your ankle, Achilles tendon and calf muscles are flexible can help prevent plantar fasciitis.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about plantar fasciitis.

Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
http://www.webmd.com/