Do you have pain in the bottom of the heel or the back of the arch? Do you find it painful to stand or walk in your shoes? Does the pain get worse with the first steps in the morning or after standing and walking after periods of rest?
If you have these symptoms, you may have plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that will affect 1 person on 10 During his life.
In this blog, we'll describe what plantar fasciitis is and how to relieve plantar fasciitis pain, so your body can heal and you can get back to doing the things you love to do. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions!
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a common foot problem that affects a band of connective tissue called plantar fascia , which runs from your heel bone to your toes along the bottom of your foot.
Plantar fasciitis occurs when this connective tissue under the foot is stretched and becomes inflamed. This can occur as a result of any combination of poor foot mechanics, unsupportive shoes, Achilles tendon strain, and a sudden change in activity level or intensity.
People who suffer from plantar fasciitis will usually experience heel pain first thing in the morning and after periods of rest. After these initial early stages, the pain usually improves, but as the day progresses, the pain often returns. This pain can also get worse with certain types of shoes.
Misconceptions about heel spur
There is a common misconception that plantar fasciitis is caused by the presence of a heel spur. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Orthopedics showed that only 50% of patients with plantar fasciitis actually had heel spurs.
This study also showed that in patients with only one heel affected by plantar fasciitis, the asymptomatic side often also had a heel spur, and in some cases the heel spur was larger than the symptomatic side.
Heel spurs are a deposit of calcium that forms horizontally at the base of the heel, where the plantar fascia originates. Heel spurs are formed by the body in an attempt to reinforce the attachment of the plantar fascia to the heel, due to repetitive strain injury. It can be considered a symptom of a prolonged plantar fascia strain.
how to cure plantar fasciitis
The best way to get relief from plantar fasciitis is to consult our team of professional orthotists and pedorthists at Confort Orthopédique . Our trained professionals will be able to assess the cause of your plantar fasciitis and recommend a comprehensive treatment tailored to your specific situation.
The goal of this treatment will be to reduce the stress placed on your plantar fascia due to the biomechanical function of your feet. This is accomplished through the proper design of custom foot orthotics and orthopedic or therapeutic footwear. Depending on your case, we can also recommend a range of complementary treatments, including physical therapy, night splints or exercises to stretch the plantar fascia.
Plantar Fasciitis Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions from our patients:
Which shoes are best for treating plantar fasciitis?
Proper footwear can play a huge role in helping your plantar fascia heal. A good shoe is one that provides proper stability, as this will help reduce stress on your plantar fascia.
Ideally, you shouldn't be able to make your shoe sound like a rag, bend it in half, or easily compress the area of the shoe around your heel. It should only bend at the toes. It is also important to choose a shoe with the appropriate heel height.
A proper heel height (ideally around 10mm difference between heel and forefoot) will put less pressure on your plantar fascia. Lower heel heights can further strain your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia and make the situation worse.
If you are having trouble finding a pair of shoes that suits you, you may want to consider a orthopedic or therapeutic shoe . At Confort Orthopédique, we offer a wide selection of top brands with the right support for the feet and ankles.
Which orthotics are best for plantar fasciitis?
Orthotics designed to relieve plantar fasciitis should address the specific biomechanical issues that cause an increased load on your plantar fascia. In most cases, this means a foot orthosis designed specifically for you and your specific foot alignment and pathomechanics.
Our custom orthotics are created on-site in our state-of-the-art lab using high definition 3D laser imaging to generate an extremely accurate measurement of your feet. Computer aided technology allows us to use these models to manufacture high quality orthoses that fit you perfectly.
