What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a treatable medical condition that develops when the band of tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes becomes inflamed. Plantar fasciitis often causes patients to experience heel pain, foot pain and other symptoms of concern.
Plantar Fasciitis Care from SOS Podiatrists
The team of podiatrists at Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) have the experience and specialized medical knowledge to provide total orthopedic care for patients who show signs of plantar fasciitis. An SOS podiatrist can diagnose your plantar fasciitis, and develop an individualized care plan to manage and treat your plantar fasciitis.
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms and Signs
Almost anyone can develop plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is most common among people who live an active lifestyle. Plantar fasciitis is also common among people who are on their feet a lot, particularly on hard or uneven surfaces. Plantar fasciitis can also develop in people who do not have optimal support from their shoes. Obese or overweight patients may also be more susceptible to developing plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis often results in a stabbing pain that is most commonly felt during a patient's first steps in the morning. This stabbing pain from plantar fasciitis often improves as the patient moves more throughout the day. However, plantar fasciitis pain can return after standing or sitting for a long period of time.
Other plantar fasciitis symptoms include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- Heel pain
- Foot pain
- Arch pain
- A burning sensation in the foot
- Shoes no longer "feeling right"
- Pain that gets worse after excerise
What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?
When the tissue connecting the heel bone and toes is put under stress or tension, small tears can occur. This can often be caused from certain types of exercise. Exercise that puts a lot of stress on the patient's heel and connected tissue is a common cause of plantar fasciitis. These types of exercise can include, but are not limited to: running, jumping and dancing.
In addition to exercise, other plantar fasciitis causes include:
- Frequently walking on hard or uneven surfaces
- Insufficient shoe support
- Obesity
Having Heel Pain or Foot Pain? Think You May Have Plantar Fasciitis? SOS Can Help
If you or a loved one have been experiencing heel pain or foot pain, or showing signs of plantar fasciitis, an SOS podiatrist may be able to help.