PLANTAR FASCIITIS

The plantar fascia is the thick connective tissue, which supports the arch of the foot.  It runs from the tuberosity of the calcaneus forward to the heads of the metatarsal bones.

MECHANISM OF INJURY

Plantar Fasciitis is caused by straining the thick connective tissue that supports the arch.  Repeated strain can cause tiny tears and this can lead to pain and swelling.  This is more likely to happen if you have excessive pronation, you are overweight, you wear shoes that don’t fit properly, you have tight Achilles' tendons or calf muscles, high arches or flat feet or you walk, stand, or run for long periods of time, especially on hard surfaces(overuse injury).

SYMPTOMS

-Pain in the bottom of the heel, usually worst in the morning and improving throughout the day.

-Morning stiffness and a painful limp in the morning, however the stiffness goes away after the foot is warmed up.

-By the end of the day pain may be replaced by a dull aching that improves with rest.

-Pain that gets worse when you climb stairs or stand on your toes.

-Pain after you stand for long periods.

- Pain at the beginning of exercise that goes away or lessens as exercise continues but returns when the exercise is completed.

-Occassional numbness may be experienced along the outside of the sole of the foot.

-Focal tenderness and sometimes swelling of the medial (inside) aspect of the calcaneous.

TREATMENT

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