Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a long ligament that runs down the bottom of our feet. It starts near the heel and extends all the way to the tips of the toes, and is responsible for the arch of the foot. When the plantar fascia gets inflamed, the resultant condition is called plantar fasciitis. It can lead to sharp pain in the feet and may affect one’s ability to walk properly.
What Causes the Condition?
There are several reasons that could lead to the injury of the ligament. The most common ones are as follows:
- Strain: When we stand for too long, a lot of pressure is applied to the tissues of plantar fascia. The constant strain on it could lead to the formation of tiny tears on its surface, which if left untreated, could lead to pain and swelling.
- Repetitive stress: Athletes, especially runners, subject their feet to a lot of stress while training. Running, sprinting, landing hard on the feet, stretching, etc. continuously constrict and loosen the tissues whilst training and can put a lot of repetitive stresses on it, leading to inflammation.
- Physical condition of the feet:Sometimes, when the arch of the foot is very high or very flat, or when the calf muscles are very tight, the plantar fascia may suffer an injury.
- Improper footwear: Wearing high heels or footwear of the wrong size for a long time can affect the plantar fascia, as they don’t allow the uniform distribution of body weight on the feet.
- Obesity: People with obesity are easily susceptible to plantar fasciitis as excessive body weight applies a lot of pressure on the ligament.
The other causes of plantar fasciitis are short/tight Achilles tendons, improper posture, hormonal changes during pregnancy, etc.
Diagnosis
A visual examination of the foot will be conducted by the doctor, followed by multiple X-rays to determine what exactly is causing the pain in the foot. The doctor checks for stiffness, swelling, tenderness, and redness in the sole. These procedures rule out the possibilities of a hairline fracture, heel spur, etc.
How Can Plantar Fasciitis Be Treated?
The treatment process for this condition begins at home. Since the condition is mainly caused by the inflammation of the plantar fascia, you should make sure to keep your feet relaxed, as it prevents any stress being applied to the injured ligament. It is best to get immediate medical care because the sooner it is treated, the better the chances of you making a full recovery.
Get in touch with Dr. Alen Heshmat, one of the best chiropractors in the Palo Alto area. He has several years of hands-on experience in this line of work and has helped thousands of patients overcome their physical pains. Dr. Heshmat would carefully analyze the condition of the foot and suggest suitable heel therapy. The treatment procedure would be completely safe, noninvasive, and painless.
Following the treatment, the patient is expected to regularly exercise the feet and the calf muscles. This is to mobilize the joints in the foot and stretch out the ligament to its original functioning state. Physical therapy may also be recommended to restore the mobility of one’s feet.
