Plantar Fasciitis

If you experience a searing pain along the bottom of your foot or in your heel as you walk, you may have plantar fasciitis. At The Foot Institute in Shreveport and Natchitoches, Louisiana, Angelo Morreale, DPM, has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating plantar fasciitis. To see if plantar fasciitis is causing your heel pain, call the office or schedule an appointment online.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Along the bottom of your foot is a tough, wide band of tissue that stretches from your heel to your toes called the plantar fascia. This ligament is responsible for the support in your arch and provides critical shock absorption in your foot. 

When your plantar fascia becomes inflamed, usually due to tiny tears in the tissue, it leads to plantar fasciitis. The hallmark of plantar fasciitis is burning pain along the bottom of your foot or heel pain, especially when you take your first steps in the morning or after a long period of inactivity.

This occurs because the damaged tissue tightens while you’re resting due to the inflammation. When you take to your feet, this taut tissue doesn’t stretch easily, which is what leads to the initial pain. After a few steps, your tissue stretches out again and the pain typically subsides. 

What causes plantar fasciitis?

There are a number of reasons why you may have developed plantar fasciitis, with overuse and repeated stress being the most common. If you engage in activities that pound your feet, your ligament can become overstressed and tiny tears can begin to develop.

There are other factors that put you more at risk of developing plantar fasciitis, such as:

• Other foot conditions, such as flat feet or high arches
• Being overweight or obese
• Running long distances 
• Being on your feet for long periods of time
• Wearing footwear without enough support 
• Being between 40 and 60 years of age

However your plantar fasciitis developed, the good news is that Dr. Morreale at The Foot Institute can help.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

At your first appointment, Dr. Morreale reviews your medical history, looks at your symptoms, and completes a physical examination. He may order advanced imaging, such as an X-ray or MRI, for a closer look at your foot. 

If he diagnoses you with plantar fasciitis, he may recommend:

• Rest and ice
• Gentle stretching exercises
• Physical therapy
• Brace, night splints, walking boot, or cast
• Custom orthotics
• Medications

If your case is severe, Dr. Morreale may recommend surgery to relieve your pain.

For expert treatment of your plantar fasciitis, call The Foot Institute or schedule an appointment online.