Plantar Fasciitis: Risks and Treatments

Whether you're on your feet all day for work or you're a weekend warrior, it's common to experience heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis affects one in 10 people. This pain occurs when the plantar fascia, tough tissue along the sole that supports the arch of your foot, becomes inflamed. The pain is often worse in the morning, after exercise or standing for long periods, or when standing after sitting for a prolonged period. However, it can also be caused by running, walking, playing sports and being hard on your feet.

Risk Factors

Approximately 2 million Americans are treated for this condition every year. Risk factors for plantar fasciitis include:

• Age. It's most common in adults 40 to 60.
• Foot mechanics. Flat feet, a high arch or even a tight Achilles tendon.
• Long-distance exercise. This includes running and hiking.
• New routine. If you've recently started a new high-impact exercise or upped your workouts.
• Obesity. Sudden weight gain especially stresses the plantar fascia.
• Your job. If you're on your feet all day teaching, working an assembly line or waiting tables.
• Your shoes. If your shoes have no arch support or soft soles.

The Journal of Pain found that 70% of plantar fasciitis suffers say they experience moderate to severe pain, 61% battle it daily and 54% report it hinders routine activities. Several studies report up to 90% of patients experience improvement within the first year of treatment. Some methods to reduce pain are:

• Consider custom shoe inserts.
• Don't wear flat shoes or go barefoot. Only wear shoes with arch support.
• Ice on the area up to four times daily for at least 10 minutes.
• Limit physical activity and prolonged standing.
• Lose weight.
• Perform calf stretches.
• Take OTC anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen.
• Use crutches.
• Wear a splint or brace while you sleep.

If these methods haven't worked, talk to your doctor about other approaches, such as cortisone injections, physical therapy or ask if they can refer you to a podiatrist.

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