What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is an extremely common condition that causes heel pain and discomfort, making everyday life a lot more challenging. 1 in 10 people will get plantar fasciitis at some point in their life and knowing what causes it, the symptoms to look out for and how you can treat it is key to being prepared. Read on to learn what causes plantar fasciitis and how Glen Foley Podiatry can help.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a degenerative irritation of the plantar fascia, often from repetitive overuse that causes thickening of the tissue and damage around the attachment on the heel bone.

The plantar facia is a highly organised area of deep facial reinforcement. Made up of three segments arising from the heel and extending to the forefoot.

It plays an important role in shock absorption, stiffening the foot and managing forces across the foot. Its key role in providing support to the medial arch.

The Symptoms to Look Out For

Plantar fasciitis typically develops gradually and usually feels worse in the morning or after periods of rest. The most common symptoms include:

• Sharp or stabbing pains in the underside of your heel
• Pain that subsides with movement but returns after long periods of standing or walking
• Tenderness at the bottom of the heel or along the arch
• Tightness in your Achilles tendon or calf pain
• Discomfort after exercise rather than during

The Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is caused by damage to the plantar fascia and this can happen in a number of ways, including:

• Being on your feet for long periods of time throughout the day
• Play sports or exercising on hard, flat surfaces
• Beginning exercise without warming up or stretching
• Wearing unsupportive footwear like flip flops and backless shoes

Although plantar fasciitis can happen to anyone, people with health conditions like high arch feet or flat feet are more susceptible to damaging their plantar fascia and should take more care when exercising or walking for long periods of time.

How a Podiatrist Can Help

The pain of plantar fasciitis can usually be managed at home and often eases on its own. However, if the pain worsens and everyday life is becoming more and more difficult, it may be time to visit a healthcare professional.

A podiatrist can provide neurological and vascular examinations of the feet to rule out any underlying causes along with a thorough musculoskeletal examination of your feet and lower limbs to look for possible mechanical causes of the pain. Using these examinations, a podiatrist can then recommend treatments that are tailored to you and your feet, including bespoke orthotics and footwear advice to avoid choosing low-support shoes and aid in a speedy recovery.

At Glen Foley Podiatry, we provide leading foot care and lower limb treatment to help get you back to feeling comfortable and pain-free, every day. Get in touch today to see how we can help.