What Others Are Saying:
"Modeling with broken bones was painful,
until I met Dr. Jenson
I had to have surgery on my right foot due to multiple broken bones and was initially scared of the procedure. But after meeting Dr. Jenson, all my worries were gone. Not only did he do an incredible job in my surgery, he had me up and running in no time. My work requires me to be standing for long periods of time and involves a lot of traveling. Without Dr. Jenson and his wonderful staff, I wouldn’t have been able to feel as great as I do in this short time."
- Taylor Hannah
Plantar Fasciitis
A painful inflammatory process of the plantar fascia, a ligament-like band that runs along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the ball of your foot. The plantar fascia acts as a shock absorber for the foot.
The band pulls on the heel bone, raising the arch of the foot as it pushes off the ground. But if your foot moves incorrectly, the plantar fascia may strain, swell, and its tiny fibers may begin to fray causing inflammation.
This condition does not necessarily show up immediately. It is not uncommon for this to be a chronic condition, which will gradually worsen with time and increase wear of the foot. Thus, the symptoms may be masked when the condition is present for some time.
Symptoms
- Pain felt at the heel of the foot
- Tightness or stretching along the bottom of the feet
- Pain felt during the 1st steps of the day
- Pain gets worse with longer standing during the day
- Calf pain and tightness
- Increase possibilities of knee pain
- Especially in runners
- Difficulty bending foot
Common Causes
- Trauma
- Can cause gradual chronic condition whose symptoms will be present later
- Flat feet
- If your foot flattens too much, may cause the fascia to overstretch and swell, which can possibly inflame and cause pain upon walking
- Heel Spur
- Extra bone that may grow near the spot where the plantar fascia attaches to the heel, which may put pressure on fascia
- Work related weight bearing activities
- Non-supported shoes
- Bursitis
- Swelling of a bursa, a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between a ligament and a bone.
Treatment
- Physical Therapy Exercises
- Specific stretches can become a huge asset into relieving pain
- Ice
- Icing at night will help control the inflammatory process and aid in preventing the pain felt during the first steps of the day
- Ice Massage is helpful by rolling your foot’s arch on top of a cold can
- Night Splints
- Special brace worn at night to keep foot in neutral position and prevent inflammation while sleeping, thus helping to prevent the pain felt during the first steps of the day
- Orthotics
- Medications
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Injections
- Surgery
- Release of a tiny amount of plantar fascia fibers
