If you are experiencing pain in your heel after the first steps you take in the morning, or after extended periods of sitting or standing, it could be a sign that you have an inflammation of the tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your toes and up to your heel bone. This condition is called plantar fasciitis. The repetitive shock of landing on your foot during sporting activities like running, basketball and tennis can cause this phenomenon, but it can also happen from just everyday activities from basic living stresses.
Symptoms that you may have plantar fasciitis include the following:
- Stabbing pain in the heel or possibly a dull, achy pain.
- Tenderness and a burning sensation on the bottom of the foot.
- Stiffness and discomfort after work or exercise, but usually not during exercise.
See your podiatrist right away if you are experiencing severe heel pain to make certain that other problems are not contributing.
Plantar fasciitis treatments include the following:
- RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
- Night splints to relieve pressure and stress
- Orthotic shoe inserts for the benefits of heel and arch support
- Stretching and physical therapy exercises to help increase strength and flexibility
- Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
Wearing properly fitted shoes, stretching before exercise, and trying low impact sports like swimming and cycling can help your symptoms to abate.
Don’t ignore the symptoms of plantar fasciitis because it can lead to chronic heel pain. This is the type of pain that may also cause you to alter the way you walk from avoiding putting pressure on certain parts of your foot, which alters your gait mechanics and creates problems with your spinal alignment.
Avoid these complications by seeing your foot care specialist. At Your Next Step, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies, along with years of experience, to help diagnose and treat a variety of podiatric issues, including ankle injuries,arthritis, toe deformities, nail fungus, chronic tendon pain, and skin problems. Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, and Dr. Aliza V. Eisen provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the greater Philadelphia area at our offices in Ardmore, Paoli, and Downingtown, PA. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.