What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It happens when the plantar fascia—a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes—becomes inflamed or irritated.

Think of the plantar fascia like a strong rubber band that helps support the arch of your foot and absorb shock when you walk. When it gets overused or overstressed, small tears can develop in the tissue, leading to inflammation and pain. In this blog, Foot & Ankle Center of the Rockies will cover plantar fasciitis in depth, discussing its characteristics, causes, and the treatments that fix it, too.

What Does It Feel Like?

Most people describe the pain as:

• A sharp, stabbing pain in the heel, especially when taking the first steps in the morning or after sitting for a while.
• It might ease up after you walk around, but it often returns after long periods of standing or after exercise.

What Causes It?

There are a few common risk factors:

• Overuse from activities like running or prolonged standing.
• Flat feet, high arches, or abnormal walking patterns.
• Tight calf muscles or Achilles tendons.
• Wearing unsupportive shoes.
• Being overweight, which increases strain on your feet.

How Do We Treat It?

The good news is that most cases improve with conservative care. Treatment usually includes:

• Stretching exercises for your calf and foot.
• Icing the heel to reduce inflammation.
• Supportive footwear or orthotics to take pressure off the fascia.
• Activity modification to avoid aggravating movements.
• Sometimes we’ll consider night splints, physical therapy, or anti-inflammatory medications.
• More severe symptoms can be treated with steroid injections, shockwave therapy, or laser therapy

Surgery is rarely needed and only considered if conservative treatment is unsuccessful.

What Should I Expect?

Recovery can take a few weeks to several months, depending on how severe it is and how consistently treatment is followed. The earlier we start treatment, the faster and more complete your recovery tends to be.

At Foot & Ankle Center of the Rockies, we offer a full range of podiatric services to patients with an emphasis on treatment specifically designed for you as an individual. Our practice is ready to serve your entire family with excellent care for the unique podiatric concerns of children, adults, and seniors. Whether you need a routine podiatric checkup, surgical or non-surgical treatment for a foot or ankle disorder, or custom orthotics to increase comfort and sports performance, Foot & Ankle Center of the Rockies is the right choice!