The Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

Discover the steps to treating your heel pain.

While we all know the benefits of running and physical activity, if you’re someone who doesn’t stretch before their runs, who runs perhaps a little more than they should or overdoes it when it comes to tackling those hills, then you’re probably going to deal with heel pain at some point. If so, our Roseburg, OR, podiatrist Dr. Jason Wilks wants you to know what to do to not just ease the pain but also protect against chronic heel pain.

What are the signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis? 

Wondering if your heel pain might be due to plantar fasciitis? Some of the telltale signs include,

• Pain that presents at the bottom of the heels (below the heel bone)
• Pain that radiates to the arches of the foot (because the plantar fascia provide support for the arches, it only makes sense that plantar fasciitis would cause painful arches, too)
• Swelling of the heel
• Heel pain that is sharp, stabbing, and worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity
• Pain that eases with movement
• Pain when putting weight on the foot (may lead you to limp)
  
  

What causes plantar fasciitis? 

Plantar fasciitis occurs when there are microtears in the plantar fascia, which leads to inflammation. Plantar fasciitis is considered an overuse injury and may occur after simply overdoing it on a single run or may appear over time. Some risk factors that can increase your risk for plantar fasciitis include,

• Running or high-impact activities
• Suddenly increasing the intensity or length of your runs
• Wearing old, worn-out, or poorly fitted shoes
• Being between 40-60 years old
• Having flat feet or high arches
• Being overweight or obese
• Occupations that require you to be on your feet all-day
  
  

How is this common foot problem treated? 

Most of the time, plantar fasciitis can be addressed through proper rest and home care; however, if you’ve never had heel pain before or if your plantar fasciitis is severe or unresponsive to home care, then it’s time to turn to our Roseburg, OR, foot doctors. Common ways to treat plantar fasciitis on your own include,

• Icing the heel 2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes at a time (alternatively, you can roll a frozen bottle of water under the arches of your feet to alleviate pain and stiffness)
• Splinting or bracing the arches of the feet while you sleep to reduce morning stiffness and pain
• Performing heel and ankle stretches and exercises to improve blood flow and mobility
• Avoiding running and other high-impact activities that could aggravate the inflamed fascia
• Wearing custom orthotics, as prescribed by our Roseburg, OR, podiatrist, can help distribute the weight more evenly throughout the feet to reduce pressure points
• Undergoing physical therapy to strengthen the muscles of the lower leg and properly stretch out the plantar fascia
  
  

If you are dealing with severe or recurring bouts of plantar fasciitis, then it may be worth it to visit our Roseburg, OR, podiatrist, Dr. Wilks, to find out how to effectively treat this problem. To schedule an evaluation, call Wilks Advanced Foot Care at (541) 673-0742.