Injuries Athletic Therapists Treat- A Monthly Series
Welcome to our monthly series!
Our goal is to share with YOU how Athletic Therapy can help you recover from common injuries you or a loved one may be experiencing. Each month will showcase and discuss a new condition athletic therapists see and treat each day
Enjoy!
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain is a very common foot problem in athletes and in the general population. Plantar fasciitis is a very generic term to describe pain at the bottom of the foot, more specifically over the areas of the arch and the heel. This pain can be attributed to several etiologies including heel spurs, plantar fascia irritation or tears, stress fracture and bursitis. It is important to see a healthcare professional, such as a certified athletic therapist, to get the proper diagnosis and get on a proper treatment plan.
The plantar fascia is a broad band of connective tissue that runs the length of the sole of the foot. It functions to assist in maintaining the stability of the foot and in securing or bracing the arch of the foot. This band of tissue can become inflamed and painful due to many different reasons. Although the cause remains unclear in many cases of plantar fasciitis, tension and stress on the tissue can cause small tears. Repeated stress and tearing of the tissue can irritate or inflame it causing pain.
What causes Plantar Fasciitis?
It can be caused by a number of factors, including type of shoes, foot structure, overuse and types of walking surfaces:
Shoes- no arch support or very flexible
Foot structure- over-pronated (flat feet) or over-supinated (high arch feet)
Walking surfaces- hard surface such as sidewalk, or warehouse floor or a running track
Overuse- common in runners, due to the toe-off phase puts increased tension on the fascia (approx twice the body weight)
Signs and symptoms
- Pain at the heel or into the arch of the foot
- Pain worse in the morning or after sitting for a long time, but feels better after a few steps
- Pain that can increase when toes are extended
- Stiffness
- Swelling around your heel
- Calf tightness
Risk Factors Include
- Age
- Obesity
- Certain types of exercise or occupations
- Foot mechanics
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
Finding the cause is the first step for treatment. Pain is a symptom, not the cause. If you just treat the pain, you are putting a temporary band-aid on the issue, but haven’t fixed the problem, and the pain will come back. Management of plantar fasciitis will generally require an extended period of treatment. Wearing supportive shoes, or over the counter insoles, potentially custom orthotics may help. Exercise or occupation rest of modifications as well as strengthening any muscle imbalances or stretching the calf are all things that may benefit. Therapeutic modalities such as ultra-sound and shockwave have been known to treat the fascia. Lastly, taking anti-inflammatory medication or sometimes a steroid injection may be needed to help. It is very rare to need surgery
Going to see a qualified professional, such as a certified athletic therapist, to identify the cause and get you on a proper treatment plan is the best way to deal with the issue. If you think you have plantar fasciitis and want to resolve it, contact us today: HERE