What Causes Plantar Fasciitis and How We Treat It

New York City Ankle & Foot Blog What Causes Plantar Fasciitis and How We Treat It
What Causes Plantar Fasciitis and How We Treat It

The pain and annoyance of plantar fasciitis are hard to miss: it causes stabbing heel pain from your first step each morning. You may also experience pain when you walk after periods of rest. About 10% of Americans (roughly 2 million people) suffer from plantar fasciitis, and it is widely considered the single most common reason people visit a podiatrist.

Board-certified podiatrists Shweta Raina, DPM, and Rolando Melendez, DPM, of New York City Ankle & Foot, can attest to that. They have extensive experience in treating patients with plantar fasciitis at their offices in Queens and Jackson Heights, NY, 

In this month’s blog, they break down everything you need to know about this overuse injury and its treatment.

Plantar fasciitis 101

The plantar fascia connects your heel bone to the front part of your foot. When the plantar fascia is healthy, it supports your arch and keeps your foot in proper alignment. 

Your plantar fascia also helps your foot absorb shocks to protect your bones and other tissues when you walk, run, and jump. However, excessive stress on your foot can stretch the plantar fascia beyond its capacity, causing it to tear.

These tears trigger your body’s healing response, which includes inflammation. The inflammation makes your plantar fascia tender, swollen, and painful. If you have plantar fasciitis, you probably feel most of your foot pain right around the heel area.

As you sleep or rest, your plantar fascia contracts. When you stretch it out too quickly by stepping on your foot, the fascia gets stressed and irritated.

You might feel some relief as the day progresses and your fascia gradually stretches out. You might even be completely pain-free while you’re exercising. But as soon as you rest, your heel hurts again.

Common causes of Plantar fasciitis 

Plantar fasciitis doesn't develop overnight. It usually results from ongoing strain on the plantar fascia. This ailment most commonly affects adults aged 40 to 60, people who are overweight or obese, long-distance runners, and those who stand for long hours on hard floors at jobs like nursing or teaching. 

 

Other risk factors include:

Mild cases may be alleviated with self-care, such as target stretches, rest, and icing. But if home remedies are ineffective, it’s time to see the experts at New York City Ankle & Foot.

 

Our treatment options

We focus on conservative, highly effective therapies to relieve pain and speed recovery without surgery. These include:

Ignoring heel pain often leads to chronic issues that change how you walk, creating secondary pain in your knees, hips, or lower back. 

Our team works with you to build a treatment plan that fits your daily routine. Contact the office most convenient to you to book an appointment today.