About 1 out of every 10 people will experience plantar fasciitis at some point. You might suspect you have plantar fasciitis if your first few steps each morning cause searing pain in your heels. Plantar fasciitis often affects runners, dancers, people who are on their feet all day, people with flat feet, and overweight individuals. Jumping too quickly into a new exercise routine can also cause heel pain.
Regardless of what triggered your plantar fasciitis, we know it can be excruciating, and if you’re dealing with heel pain, Dr. Ruben Nieto wants you to know that a variety of plantar fasciitis treatments are available here at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center in Bakersfield, California.
Here’s what you need to know about plantar fasciitis treatment.
When you have plantar fasciitis, your plantar fascia 一a thick band of tissue on the bottom of your foot ー is inflamed. Several at-home treatments can reduce your pain by targeting this inflammation. Conservative at-home treatments include:
Many of these at-home treatments complement other therapies prescribed by Dr. Nieto. Because runners are particularly at-risk for plantar fasciitis, it’s important to know key steps to reduce your risk of hurting your feet. Mainly, these are: running on soft surfaces, keeping your mileage increases to 10% or less each week, and wearing the right type of shoes.
If rest, icing, and stretching aren’t enough to reduce your pain, Dr. Nieto can recommend additional conservative treatments. Two go-to treatments for plantar fasciitis are:
Custom orthotics are designed especially for your feet. These can be particularly beneficial if flat feet contribute to your plantar fasciitis. Custom orthotics aren’t just extra padding for your shoes. They can help treat underlying conditions (such as plantar fasciitis), improve your gait, and prevent future issues from developing.
Dr. Nieto can also recommend physical therapy, in which a physical therapist provides hands-on care to reduce your pain and restore your walking ability. As movement experts, physical therapists are trained to improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement to complete at home.
In addition to orthotics and physical therapy, Dr. Nieto can also recommend the right lifestyle modifications, additional support (such as night splints), and (if needed) when to consider surgery.
While surgery isn’t the go-to treatment for plantar fasciitis, there are times when surgery is the right move. In severe cases of plantar fasciitis, the plantar fascia can tear. Here at Diabetic Foot and Wound Center, we use minimally invasive surgical techniques to repair a severely damaged or torn plantar fascia.
Questions about plantar fasciitis? Put your feet first and schedule your appointment with Dr. Ruben Nieto by calling 661-238-7526 or by using our online scheduling tool.
