Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Eugene

Sharp, burning, or stabbing pain felt in your heel or along the bottom of the arch of your foot is very often a condition known as plantar fasciitis. Roughly two million people seek treatment for this pain each year. Unfortunately, more than 50% of people with plantar fasciitis report that it interferes with work activities. Even worse, 7/10 people experience moderate to severe pain daily from this inflammatory condition. Although an acute injury may cause plantar fasciitis, it most often results from repeated activity and pressure. Read on for everything to know about this common, painful condition, including your options for plantar fasciitis treatment.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the medical term for inflammation and/or strain of the plantar fascia. This is the long, thick band of connective tissue that runs from your heel to your toes. This strong band of tissue sustains pressure every day. However, that repeated pressure day after day can lead to small tears causing inflammation/swelling, strain, and ultimately pain. 

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis are felt in the heel or bottom of the foot, but the pain may come and go. It is often very painful in the morning as you take your first steps out of bed. It may ache when you’re climbing stairs or during or after exercising. Prolonged periods of standing or sitting can also exacerbate pain. 

Both men and women develop plantar fasciitis, making it an extraordinarily common foot problem. It can also affect people of all ages, though it’s more common in adults over the age of forty. There are also a variety of risk factors that tend to make some people more likely to develop plantar fasciitis than others. These risk factors include:

• Being overweight
• Engaging in high-impact activities (running, jumping, dancing)
• Flat feet
• Frequently wearing high-heeled shoes
• Having a tight Achilles tendon
• High arches
• Pregnancy
• Standing on hard surfaces for extended periods
• Wearing poorly fitting or unsupportive shoes

It’s important to remember that anyone can develop plantar fasciitis. So, if you’re experiencing pain in your heel or along the arch of the bottom of your foot, see a podiatrist for plantar fasciitis treatment.