Plantar fasciitis can cause pain and discomfort in your heel. This condition occurs when your plantar fascia – a ligament-like band of tissue that extends from your heel to your toes along the bottom of your foot – becomes inflamed.
When you put too much stress and pressure on your feet over time, small tears can develop in the plantar fascia. This leads to inflammation, irritation, and pain. If you don’t receive proper treatment for plantar fasciitis, it can hinder your ability to walk and can even lead to pain in other areas of your body, such as your back.
Let’s talk about some of the main causes of plantar fasciitis and where you can go for treatment for your foot pain.
Triggers of Heel Pain Caused by Plantar Fasciitis
Certain factors are known to commonly irritate the plantar fascia:
Engaging in Frequent High-Impact Exercise
If you enjoy running, jogging, or other high-impact sports or exercises, you may stretch or slightly tear the plantar fascia. This will cause it to swell and cause heel pain.
Having an Active Job
It’s possible for you to develop plantar fasciitis if you are in a profession that entails a great deal of walking or standing, such as if you’re in food service, retail, airline service, or if you stand for long periods in a factory.
Being Between the Ages of 40 and 70
As we age, the plantar fascia becomes less flexible. Therefore, we become more likely to sustain an injury to the plantar fascia if we’re not careful when engaging in heavy activity during these years.
Being Overweight or Obese
Plantar fasciitis can develop if there is excess weight in the body, which puts extra pressure on the plantar fascia. Losing weight can actually help to lessen or eliminate the inflammation and heel pain.
Having a Mechanical Issue in Your Foot
A mechanical problem such as flat feet, an odd walking pattern, or high arches may impact how your body distributes weight on the feet. Therefore, when you stand or walk, you may be putting added stress on the plantar fascia.
Wearing Poorly Fitting Shoes
Shoes that don’t fit well don’t support your whole foot, and this creates a similar issue as having a mechanical problem in the foot. This is why plantar fasciitis is a common problem for women who frequently wear high-heeled shoes.
Help for Plantar Fasciitis in San Antonio, Texas
Here at The Podiatry Group of South Texas, our skilled podiatrists have the knowledge and experience to reduce your pain and promote healing in your foot. We will first discuss noninvasive and nonmedicinal methods to treat your heel pain, such as fitting you for orthopedic shoes or inserts. Pain-relief injections may also be recommended depending on the severity of your condition.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our outstanding physicians, contact The Podiatry Group of South Texas today by calling us at (210) 227-8700 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to helping you get back in step!
