Plantar Fasciitis Is An Inflammation Of The Plantar Fascia - Plantar Fasciatis - Plantar Fasciitis Exercises

Plantar fasciitis is due to the overuse or injury of the plantar fascia. The name plantar fascia comes from "plantar" which means the bottom or sole, and "fascia" refers to the fibrous band of tissue. Common misspellings include: plantar fasciatis, plantar facitis, plantar faciitis, and plantar facitiis.

Plantar fasciitis is sometimes called policeman's heel, because people who have jobs that require standing or walking on hard surfaces for long periods of time are susceptible to this condition. This name is derived from the time that policemen used to walk the streets for much of their shift.

Tennis heel and jogger's heel are other names from plantar fasciitis. Walking or running regularly for exercise can cause someone to be prone to this condition due to the stress on the plantar fascia. Pain is felt after exercise instead of during the exercise. Bicycling and swimming are better exercise alternatives for people with plantar fasciitis since these activities don't put stress on the plantar fascia.

Flat feet or very high arches may also cause plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis used to be referred to as gonorrheal heel. People thought plantar fasciitis was somehow related to the sexually-transmitted disease gonorrhea.

Plantar fasciitis can begin as slight pain in the heel. This is called a stone bruise. Plantar fasciitis is a progressive disorder, which means that it will get worse if left untreated. This can lead to pain in the legs, hips, and back due to changes in the way the person walks to avoid pain.

Untreated plantar fasciitis can lead to a tear in the ligament. Such a tear can lead to the development of a heel spur. A heel spur is a piece of bone that develops in the area of the injured plantar fascia. Wearing shoes with arch and heel supports is one suggested treatment. Walking barefoot should be avoided since it puts stress on the plantar fascia.

Plantar Fasciitis Exercise - When pain is experienced, stretching exercises such as stretches for plantar fasciitis can be done to alleviate the pain. Stretching the Achilles tendon can help reduce the pain associated with the first steps of the day. This can be done by lying on your back in bed and gently making the letters of the alphabet with your big toe before getting out of bed.

Plantar fasciitis treatment includes extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis (ESWT), massages, taping or night splints, stretching and oral pain medication. Over-the-counter pain medication can reduce the pain. Resting and elevating the foot and applying ice packs a few times a day can help. The doctor may administer corticosteroid injections to give relief.

About ninety percent of patients treated for plantar fasciitis significantly improve. For those who fail to find relief with non-surgical treatment, a doctor may recommend a surgical procedure called plantar fascia release. This surgery is rarely done. It can lead to further complications, such as fallen arches.

Recommended: Plantar Fasciitis Night Splints, Best Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis And Heel Cushions