When dealing with medical terminology, there’s a tendency to lapse into a state of confusion because the terms used are extremely complicated. In fact, when told of some diagnoses, you may think no one else but you have the condition and that death is surely near! Plantar Fasciitis is a term that sounds like a serious medical condition but in actuality, it’s a common orthopedic problem which many people suffer from that can be simply explained as sore feet. It’s also possible it can be treated using conservative and basic methods having satisfactory results for most patients.

The Plantar Fascia is the band of connective tissue covering and supporting the bones on the bottom of the foot. This tissue extends from the heel to the ball of the foot, causing a tension which maintains the arch of the foot. Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation of the Plantar Fascia causing irritation and swelling in the feet. The results of this inflammation are degrees of heel pain, difficulty walking or generally speaking, sore feet. There are several reasons why this problem occurs: a tight Achilles tendon, which is the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heels, incorrect running techniques, obesity, sudden weight gain and problems with foot arches. Active men between the ages of 40 – 70 are the most common recipients.

There are various treatments for Plantar Fasciitis. Podiatrists usually begin with basic treatments which may include heel stretching exercises, shoe inserts, night splints or anti-inflammatory medications. If these initial treatments don’t provide the necessary relief, then the patient can be fitted with a short leg cast covering the lower leg up to the knee which is worn for 3 – 6 weeks. Or a cast boot can be worn. Steroid injections have provided tremendous relief for many, but these injections are very painful. If all non-surgical treatments fail and the pain is severe enough, then surgery may be the last resort. However, surgery being a much more invasive procedure brings with it the risk of nerve injury, infection and rupture of the Plantar Fasciitis. This of course means more pain and after going through all this, the patient may end up in the unfortunate position of still having sore feet.

As a preventive measure, maintaining flexibility in the calf and foot areas appears to be the best way to avoid getting sore feet. This means having a routine where a person regularly performs stretching exercises that include the calf and feet. If a person is involved in activities such as running, dancing or exercising in a gym, then it’s also important that they take the time to shop for shoes and/or sneakers that will provide the proper support for their feet. Should Plantar Fasciitis occur in spite of these precautions, there’s no shortage of treatment methods, and the good news is most people experience improvement in their conditions within 1 year of beginning non-surgical therapy.