What Are the Treatments for Plantar Fascia?

Injuries of the plantar fascia, causing a condition known as plantar fasciitis, occurs from overuse of the foot. The plantar fascia are bands of tissue that line the bottom of the foot and link the heel bone to the toes, and plantar fascitis causes severe heel pain, particularly in the morning before the foot has had time to stretch. This condition may occur due to a number of factors, including obesity, diabetes, overuse, flat-footedness or a high arch.

Identify Causes

• Because plantar fasciitis can be due to overuse, it is important to identify any activities you may be conducting that especially aggravate heel pain. These could include ceasing frequent walking or running for exercise. If you must be on your feet all day, try placing a soft pad on the floor where you stand to absorb some of the shock.

  If your weight could be contributing to this pain, losing weight through a healthy diet or exercises that do not place weight on your feet, such as bicycling or water aerobics, may help. Pain caused by the foot's shape may be remedied with an orthotic, which is a specially made insert for the shoe that supports the foot.

Pain Relievers

• While you are attempting to stop the heel pain permanently, consider taking pain medications that can relieve, but not mask the pain while you are healing. These medications include aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen, ketoprofen or ibuprofen.

  Other pain relievers may include corticosteroid injections which can relieve pain, yet should not be used multiple times for relief.

Exercises to Stretch the Foot

• A physician may recommend twice-daily stretching exercises to help with pain. Stretches include placing one foot shoulder width in front of the other while slowly bending both knees. Hold this for 10 to 15 seconds, then 6 to 8 times. Switch foot position and repeat on the other side.

  Another stretch includes dangling the heels off a step, then lowering the heels to stretch the shins and calf muscles.

For Severe Pain

• If your pain does not cease with conservative methods, a physician may recommend more extreme procedures, such as extracorporeal shock wave therapy, where sound waves are applied to the heel. This encourages healing of the plantar fascia, yet can cause unwanted side effects, such as swelling, pain, numbness, or bruising.

  A physician also may recommend surgery to detach the plantar fascia from the heel bone or stretch the plantar fascia. In addition to surgical complications, such as infection, the surgery can cause long-term weakness in the foot's arch.