Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the plantar fascia is inflamed and painful. This fascia is a thick tissue band located on the bottom of the foot that connects the toes and the heel bone. The pain is normally worse after prolonged periods of sitting or lying down and it tends to decrease as you go about your day. This condition is often seen in those who run a lot, such as soccer players who spend a lot of time running up and down the soccer field.
How to Recognize Plantar Fasciitis
This condition often causes a feeling of stabbing in your heel. In the majority of cases, only one of your feet will be affected, though in some cases, both feet are affected. This condition tends to develop gradually over time.
How is Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosed?
A physical examination of the affected foot will be done first. Your doctor will be assessing the following:
- Reflexes
- Muscle tone
- Coordination
- Muscle strength
- Senses of sight and touch
- Balance
All of the above are tested to get a more full picture of your neurological and musculoskeletal health. Your doctor will want to make sure that your symptoms are not being caused by a more serious health condition.
Imaging is also commonly done to rule out other possible conditions, such as a pinched nerve or stress fracture. With imaging, your doctor will also be looking for bone spurs on your heel.
How is Plantar Fasciitis Prevented?
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best ways to prevent this issue. When you are at the right weight for your height and body size, there will be less stress applied to the plantar fascia.
Wearing the right shoes that are in good shape is also critical. About every 500 miles of use, you should be replacing your cleats. The shoes that you do wear should have good shock absorbancy and solid arch support.
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