Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Verywell / JR Bee
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:
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When a person has plantar fasciitis, the connective tissue that forms the arch of the foot becomes inflamed. As the stress placed on the inflamed plantar fascia continues, microtears develop, which may eventually lead to the development of a bony growth called a heel spur.
While it’s not uncommon for people with plantar fasciitis to have a heel spur (seen on an X-ray), keep in mind that the heel spur is not the source of the pain. In fact, many people withheel spurshave no pain at all.
There are a number of factors believed to increase a person’s risk for developing plantar fasciitis. Some of these factors include:
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The diagnosis of plantar fasciitis requires a medical history and physical examination.During the medical history, your healthcare provider will ask you where your pain is located, and whether it’s worse in the morning and/or with prolonged standing.
Next, your healthcare provider will look for plantar fascia tenderness. While holding your foot, he will bend your toes toward your shin and then press along your plantar fascia from your heel to forefoot.
Blood and imaging tests are not used to diagnose plantar fasciitis, though they may be helpful for ruling out other potentialheel paindiagnoses, such as:
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Thetreatment of plantar fasciitisbegins with the following simple, self-care steps:
Rest
Resting your foot is perhaps the most important step you can take to ease your plantar fasciitis-related pain. This means avoiding irritating activities, like those that place unnecessary strain on your foot (e.g., running, jumping, dancing, or walking barefoot).
Apply Ice
Applying a cold compress or ice pack to the back of your foot for 15-minute sessions, several times a day, can ease pain and swelling. Be sure to wrap the ice pack in a thin towel, so it is not in direct contact with your skin.
You may also consider using anice bottle massage, which is a way of applying ice to your foot while simultaneously massaging the plantar fascia.
Ice Bottle Massage for Your Plantar Fascia
Stretching Exercises
Gently stretching your plantar fascia for 20 minutes throughout the day, as well as the muscles around your foot and ankle, can improve foot flexibility and mobility, and promote healing of the irritated fascia.This exercise is quite simple; if you are stretching your Achilles tendon, you are most likely stretching the plantar fascia.
A Simple, Effective Stretch for Plantar Fasciitis
Muscle Strengthening Exercises
Since the weak muscles in your foot and ankle may be contributing to your plantar fasciitis, strengthening these muscles can be beneficial. The classic strengthening exercise for plantar fasciitis is called the toe towel grab, in which you use your toes to grasp and drag a small towel across the floor.
Check-In FirstBe sure to check in with your physical therapist or healthcare provider to see which strengthening exercises are right for you.
Check-In First
Be sure to check in with your physical therapist or healthcare provider to see which strengthening exercises are right for you.
Kinesiology Taping
Kinesiology tapeis a flexible, cotton tape that can help support your foot’s arch, while still allowing your foot and ankle to move well.Before applying kinesiology tape to your foot, be sure to speak to your physical therapist or healthcare provider to ensure you are applying it properly.
Kinesiology Taping for Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Pain
Medication
Your healthcare provider may recommend a short course (two to three weeks) of anonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)to ease your plantar fascia pain and inflammation.Talk with your healthcare provider, though, before taking an NSAID, to make certain it is safe and right for you.
If your pain persists, your healthcare provider may inject a steroid (cortisone) into the tender area of your foot.
Using Cortisone Shots for Inflammation
Orthotics
Your physical therapist or healthcare provider may recommend acushioned-soled shoewith orthotic support, like a heel cup or gel-pad insert, for your plantar fasciitis. The main purpose of this orthotic support is to support both the arch and heel of your foot to take the pressure and strain off of the plantar fascia.
The heel position can also be corrected using an orthotic modification, known as a “first ray cut-out”, which can lower the strain on the plantar fascia.
Options for Persistent Pain
If the above measures do not provide adequate foot and heel pain relief, your healthcare provider may consider one of the following options:
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It’s not unusual for people tomanage their plantar fasciitiseffectively, only to have their symptoms come back when they stop treatment.For this reason, it’s important to develop strategies to help prevent a recurrence of symptoms.
These strategies may include the following:
A Word From Verywell
No doubt, plantar fasciitis can be a frustrating and painful problem to manage. The upside is that there are steps you can take to help alleviate your symptoms and prevent them from returning.
It may be a trial-and-error process and take a little patience and persistence on your part, but you can obtain relief.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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