Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a leading cause of chronic heel pain, especially among runners and dancers. At Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C., customized care plans are available for adults and children with heel stiffness, pain, and other plantar fasciitis symptoms. The experienced podiatrists use advanced technologies to assess the ligaments in your feet and confirm your diagnosis. They specialize in nonsurgical, regenerative therapies to calm inflammation and heal tissue tears so you can stay active. Call the Park City or Chicago, Illinois, office today to schedule a plantar fasciitis evaluation or book a consultation online.

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a durable band of ligament tissue that supports the foot arch and connects the heel bone to the toes. The tissue is responsible for absorbing the shock of your movements when exercising or playing sports.

Plantar fasciitis occurs when high-impact activities strain, irritate, and inflame the ligament. Small tears can also develop in the tissue, which leads to stiffness in the underside of the foot and persistent heel pain.

Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C. offers personalized care for adults and children with heel pain and other symptoms of plantar fasciitis.

The experienced podiatrists focus on the least invasive treatment to heal inflamed or damaged ligaments, so you can stay active without pain.

When should I seek medical attention for plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis symptoms are generally mild at first. Pain in the bottom of the heel and sole of the foot may be most noticeable when you first wake up and get worse with exercise and other strenuous activity.

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C. if your heel pain is persistent or severe. You should also speak with the podiatry team if heel pain limits your mobility or makes wearing shoes uncomfortable.

The providers physically examine your foot to identify areas of tenderness or swelling. They may also request diagnostic imaging tests to check for stress fractures in the heel bone and torn plantar fasciitis tissues.

How is plantar fasciitis?

Mild plantar fasciitis symptoms are often manageable with rest, ice therapy, and over-the-counter medicines. You may need to modify your activities for a few weeks so tissues have time to heal.

If your plantar fasciitis symptoms are severe, the Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C. providers may recommend:

• Physical therapy
• Prescription anti-inflammatories
• Custom orthotics
• Cortisone injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

They also offer extracorporeal shockwave therapy, a noninvasive treatment that uses high-energy shockwaves to stimulate your body’s natural healing processes.

When nonsurgical therapies aren’t effective, you may need minimally invasive surgery to release overly tight fascia tissues. The surgeons can also lengthen calf muscles to reduce unnecessary pressure on the plantar fascia.

Call Podiatry & Sports Medicine Associates P.C. today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for chronic heel pain and other plantar fasciitis symptoms. You can also book an appointment online.