What is plantar fasciitis?
Your plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from the base of your toes to your heel. This tissue is strung very taut in order to provide support for your arch, which in turns provides support for your entire foot. In fact, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that this tissue is ground zero when it comes to supporting your entire body, which means the tissue is under an incredible amount of pressure.
But your plantar fascia is built to withstand this enormous weight, to a point. When the tissue is overstressed, it can become inflamed, causing pain when you take your first steps in the morning or after a long period of rest. While the pain typically subsides quickly as the tissue stretches out, it can still present daily problems that greatly affect your comfort.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
When you overstress your plantar fascia, you create tiny tears that lead to inflammation of the tissue. There are many risk factors that cause this to happen, including:
- Concussive exercises, such as running or other activities where you routinely bounce on your feet
- Carrying extra weight on your body
- Structural problems, such as high or low arches
- Age (the older you are, the weaker your tissue is)
In addition to these risk factors, if you spend long hours on your feet, you put yourself at risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed and treated?
When you first see Dr. Bustamante, he sits down with you to review your symptoms and your medical history as part of his overall evaluation. His office is equipped with X-ray and ultrasound technology that allows him a clear picture of what’s going on inside your foot and heel in order to confirm or rule out plantar fasciitis.
If Dr. Bustamante confirms plantar fasciitis, he typically recommends a treatment plan that includes one or more of the following:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Night splints
- Custom orthotics
- Physical therapy and stretching
In addition to these conventional measures, Dr. Bustamante offers regenerative medicine treatments, including platelet-rich plasma and stem cell therapies, that help rebuild and repair your plantar fascia on a cellular level.
For relief from plantar fasciitis, call Edward Bustamante, DPM, LLC, or book an appointment using the online scheduling tool.
