Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that affects the bottom of your foot, near the heel. The condition is characterized by a sharp, stabbing pain when you place weight on your foot and it usually occurs first thing in the morning or after extended periods of rest. It can make it difficult to walk and may cause you to limp. The condition usually responds to home treatments.

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may want to observe you standing and walking or request an MRI or an x-ray. An x-ray won’t help very much in viewing the ligaments, but it can sometimes show bone spurs that contribute to the pain.

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

Treatment for plantar fasciitis typically begins with stretching exercises to stretch the foot, calf muscles and Achilles tendon. Taking steps to reduce stress on the foot, such as avoiding walking barefoot and wearing shoes with good arch support, can also help decrease pain. Changing the surface you walk on, for example, trading pavement for a track or treadmill, can also reduce stress on the foot.부산족저근막염

If your pain persists, your doctor may recommend a special taping technique for runners or a heel cup for non-runners to take pressure off the plantar fascia. Oral anti-inflammatory medications (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) can decrease inflammation and pain. If you continue to experience pain, a physician can inject steroids into the plantar fascia or use ultrasound imaging to guide the injection.

Plantar Fasciitis

Another treatment option is a night splint, which keeps the foot in a flexed position instead of the relaxed, pointed toe position that often develops during sleep or after sitting for long periods of time. These splints can lessen your pain when you stand up in the morning and help prevent heel flare-ups during activity.

You can reduce your risk of developing plantar fasciitis by losing weight, avoiding tight calf muscles and wearing shoes with good arch support. Getting new shoes regularly and using a heel pad can also help. If you’re an athlete, try switching to a lower-impact sport or decreasing the amount of running you do.