4 Ways to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
Are the first steps you take out of bed in the morning extremely painful? Do you experience heel and/or arch pain on a regular basis? If so, you may be suffering along with many of our patients at Goldsmith Podiatry with a condition known as plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a long ligament that stretches along the underside of your foot from your toes to your heel. Inflammation and irritation of the ligament are what causes the pain. Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. It is frequently the result of biomechanical defects in the arch of the foot. Both flat feet and overly high arches can aggravate the plantar fascia and throw your foot out of alignment.
The good news is that our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith or Dr. Rosanna Troia, have several non-invasive measures available to treat plantar fasciitis.
1. Custom orthotics—this treatment can be very effective in eliminating symptoms of plantar fasciitis because it aims to correct the faulty alignment by providing proper arch support and thereby stop the ligament from tearing when you walk. Custom orthotic inserts are made from a mold of your individual foot and are designed to be worn inside your shoes.
2. Stretching and physical therapy—exercises that help stretch tight calf muscles can reduce pain.
3. Taping and strapping—these are also aimed at increasing support of the foot as a way of lessening the strain on the plantar fascia.
4. Night Splint—the reason for early morning foot pain is that the plantar fascia contracts over long periods of rest. The splint keeps the ligament extended to reduce morning pain.
In addition, the foot doctor may suggest icing, anti-inflammatory medications, padding or corticosteroid injections all as means of providing pain relief and decreasing inflammation. If conservative methods fail to bring results, foot surgery may become necessary.
If you are experiencing pain in your heel, contact our Upper West Side Manhattan office for an appointment by calling: 212-877-1002.