Anyone living with the daily pain of plantar fasciitis will tell you that it can be quite debilitating. What’s happening inside their bodies makes it feel as though they’re walking around with pebbles in their shoes.
That sharp, stabbing pain comes from an inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs along the whole bottom of the foot, connecting the heel to the toes.
Somewhere around 10% of people will be diagnosed with plantar fasciitis at some point in their lives. It is most commonly associated with older age (often developing in people between the ages of 40 and 60), that usually isn’t the only factor. Really, any regular and repetitive physical activity that puts excess stress on the feet (and that important band of tissue) can cause plantar fasciitis; from running to ballet, being overweight to working a job that requires standing all day.
So, what can be done about it? While there are plenty of cases of plantar fasciitis where the cause is unknown (and some severe cases where surgery is necessary), the good news here is that for most people, physical therapy can help treat the condition. In the same way that the injury can develop because of the way we move or bodies over time, we can also work to change our movements to ones that alleviate pain and ultimately fix the issue.
Physical therapy and shoe inserts are a simple, first line of attack when it comes to treatment of plantar fasciitis. If these non-invasive measures don’t help, then steroid injections may be the next step and in more severe cases there are surgical solutions (followed by post-surgical rehab of course!). If you have any questions about plantar fasciitis or foot pain, please do stop in or call to set up your free consultation.