How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
If you are feeling severe pain in your heel area right after you get out of bed and try to stand on your foot, then you may actually have radiating problems from the arch area of your foot that is caused by plantar fasciitis.
The plantar fascia is the wide fibrous tissue that covers the bottom of your foot and when it becomes stressed or torn from the stress of working and exercising, severe pain in the arch and heel area are the result.
Treatments for plantar fasciitis include the following:
RICE—(Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) This is a standard protocol for many foot and ankle injuries.
Specially made splints and braces—These specially fabricated devices can be worn while resting or sleeping to relieve pressure and stress on the arch.
Custom orthotic inserts—Shoe inserts that are made to fit your specific foot shape can correct arch problems and also help with your knees, back, and hips.
Physical therapy exercises—Stretching and strengthening exercises will be needed after the initial healing period is over to help strengthen and lengthen the calf muscle and relieve stress on the plantar fascia.
If you have symptoms of plantar fasciitis be sure to see your foot doctor because if left untreated it can lead to chronic heel pain. At Fit Feet for Life, our team of board-certified podiatrists has access to advanced technologies and years of experience to help diagnose and treat a variety of foot and ankle problems, including heel pain, sports injuries, toe deformities, nail fungus, and plantar warts. Bonnie Sanchez, DPM, Gregory Cook, DPM, and Huy L. Nguyen, DPM provide high-quality foot and ankle care to patients in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area at our five offices conveniently located in Sun City Center, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and our two Tampa locations. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.