What is it?
Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia which causes chronic pain in the heel. The plantar fascia is a thick, fibrous structure that runs from the big toe joint, right along the arch of the foot and inserts into the heel bone. Often the pain will be only be a short, sharp pain in the mornings, but overtime it can increase to the point where the heel and arch of the foot is painful all day.
Why is my heel hurting now?
The plantar fascia acts like a shock absorber in our foot. Every step that we take it lowers down and then when we lift our foot it retracts back up, similar to a spring. Sometimes, it stops working efficiently and can start to pull at the heel. This can occur for a number of reasons, such as:
- Sudden increase in exercise
- Being overweight
- Poor footwear or regularly going barefoot
Also, it is important to note that women are much more likely to suffer from plantar fasciitis than men.
Can it be fixed?
Most definitely! Although plantar fasciitis can be a long term chronic condition, the pain can be managed through various different treatments which your Podiatrist will advise you on. Some of these are:
- Stretching and strengthening regime
- Regular icing
- Improved footwear
- Compression therapy
- Orthotics
