This article enumerates the features:

• What is Plantar Fasciitis?

• How does Plantar Fasciitis result in heel pain and heel spurs

• What is the treatment to relieve the discomfort of heel pain

Heel Pain Symptoms

Heel Pain, Heel Spurs, and Plantar Fasciitis are foot ailments that cause discomfort in the center of the heel when weight is placed around the foot, especially when one gets up in the morning. The pain slowly disappears after walking around for a short time. The pain can vary in severity from case to case or on occasion.

What Causes Heel Pain and Heel Spurs?

The most common cause of both heel pain and heel spurs is “Plantar Fasciitis ” That is the Latin term designating the inflammation of the Plantar Fascia.

Plantar Fascia is that flat band of fibrous ligaments located under the foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. This dense strip of tissues acts like a bow string that spans the arch of the foot to give it assist.

How does Plantar Fasciitis Develop?

The Plantar Fascia generally takes the full load of the body when the foot is placed on the ground. This transmits great force and stretches the Plantar Fascia to even out along with flatten the arch on the foot to distribute the weight from the body. The bow and sequence analogy appropriately describes the arching with the foot by the Plantar Fascia.

Normally the Plantar Fascia is very tough and flexible to withstand forces carried during walking or operating. The normal function can be however affected by excessive abuse of the feet, over-pronation, old age or being over-weight. As a result of the painful stretching the Plantar Fascia exhibits micro-tearing that leads to irritation, inflammation and pain at the junction of the Plantar Fascia and calcaneus or heel bone. The continued pulling with the Fascia joined to the heel bone may result in a bony growth on the heel commonly known as a Heel Spur. This growth triggers pain from the surrounding tissues that get inflamed.

During the rest periods when you sleep as well as sit for a long time the Plantar Fascia contracts and becomes tight. Initial movement or sudden getting up results in rapid application of body volume to the foot wherein the Fascia must quickly lengthen. This causes micro-tearing in the ligaments and stabbing pain for the first little while as you take actions.

How over-stretching of the Plantar Fascia normally occurs:

• Suffering from over-pronation (flattening of the arch)

• Long duration standing up or walking on hard surfaces

• Overweight, obesity, or pregnancy

• Achilles tendons and tight calf muscles

Treatment for Heel Pain

A majority of patients can discover relief through a conventional or non-surgical treatment connected with Plantar Fasciitis. Common remedies in that case are:

• Ice Packs - This should be applied to the inflamed region

• Night Splint - The mild stretching brought on by night splints help in tensioning the leg muscles and Plantar Fascia

• Shock wave therapy - Shock wave pulses applied by way of a special machine helps in relieving the soreness

• Anti-inflammatory drugs - Ibuprofen drugs assist in the relief of hindfoot pain

• Cortisone injections - The steroid remedy is locally administered in the heel area

The foregoing “short-term” remedial measures assist in relieving back heel pain. As Plantar Fascia excessively stretches due to over-pronation (dropped arches) and tightening with the calf muscle and ligaments you need to undergo long term treatment that has recently been found to become quite effective.

The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) conducted a two year national study on treatments of heel pain. This study clearly demonstrated how the best course of cost-effective treatment is often a strict regime of employing “off the shelf” orthotics (arch supports) and a specific stretching program. The treatment resulted with 90 percent of patients experiencing substantial relief from heel pain symptoms.

These orthotic insoles help in correcting abnormal foot mechanics and over-pronation through providing support to the Plantar Fascia and releasing the undue strain. Thus it treats the fundamental cause of Plantar Fasciitis. Orthotics are further helpful if along with a daily regime involving stretching and strengthening of the Plantar Fascia, the Achilles tendons, and the calf muscular tissues. Such exercises need not take no more than 5 to 10 minutes per day. night splint