subject: Plantar Fasciitis- How To Alleviate Your Heel Pain [print this page] Do your heels hurt when you walk or run? Is this pain nagging and strong enough that it keeps you from being active? If the answer to these questions is yes, you may be suffering from the most common cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis affects millions of people and there are a variety of ways your podiatrist may decide to treat the condition. In addition, there are many different causes for plantar fasciitis.
Causes Of Plantar Fasciitis
The plantar fascia is the tough band of tissue that runs from your heel to the ball of your foot. Plantar fasciitis occurs when this band is strained and becomes inflamed and swollen. There are a few different causes for plantar fasciitis. Here are a few of the most common:
*Overweight. The heavier you are, the more strain you put on your feet in general, including the plantar fascia. Over time, this added stress can lead to the development of plantar fasciitis.
*High arches. Having high arches can put an added strain on your heel and plantar fascia. This can cause irritation and over time lead to plantar fasciitis.
*Poorly fitting shoes. Having shoes that fit you correctly is essential to maintaining healthy feet and avoiding pain. Shoes that do not fit you will make foot problems worse and can lead to plantar fasciitis.
*Excessive walking, running or standing. Being on your feet for an extended period of time will also put added strain on your feet. If you are doing this on a daily basis, you are at a higher risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
Treatment Options
Depending on the severity of your case, there are a few different treatment options that you can pursue. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment to cure plantar fasciitis so it is important to talk with your podiatrist to see what options you have. Here are a few of the most common solutions to plantar fasciitis:
*Stay off your feet. This is the simplest way to reduce your symptoms. If you have a mild case, this method can be effective. If there are specific activities that are causing you pain, it can be helpful to eliminate those activities if possible.
*Choose shoes that fit you. If your pain is caused by ill-fitting shoes, it can be extremely beneficial to find a pair of shoes that fit you. If you have high arches or flat feet, you may want to talk to your podiatrist about wearing customized orthotics in your shoes to help evenly distribute your weight.
*Surgery. If non-surgical methods do not help, your case may require surgery to alleviate your symptoms. This usually occurs after several months of treatment using other methods and is seen as a last resort.
To learn more about plantar fasciitis or to schedule an appointment, contact your York, PA podiatrist today.
by: Gen Wright
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