Plantar Fasciitis

Heel pain stemming from plantar fasciitis can be debilitating, reducing your ability to remain active. At Cascade Foot & Ankle in Nephi and Provo, Utah, board-certified podiatric surgeon and wound care specialist Jared Clegg, DPM, FACFAS, and his team diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis to ease pain, restore foot health, and maximize your quality of life. Schedule an evaluation at Cascade Foot & Ankle by calling the office today.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation affecting the plantar fascia, a band of tissue along the bottom of your feet connecting your toe to your heel and supporting your foot’s arch. This tissue band absorbs shock as you move about.

How does plantar fasciitis develop?

Plantar fasciitis develops when stress and tension on the plantar fascia increase, causing it to become inflamed and sometimes tear. The symptoms you experience range from mild to severe, sometimes debilitating when not treated.

What does plantar fasciitis feel like?

Plantar fasciitis can cause the following symptoms:

• Heel pain or aching
• Stabbing pain on the bottom of your feet
• Sharp heel discomfort
• Foot pain when you first get out of bed

Heel pain linked to plantar fasciitis often worsens after long periods of being inactive. As you move around, the discomfort might ease. When left untreated, plantar fasciitis can contribute to knee, foot, hip, and back pain if it changes how you walk.

What increases the risk of plantar fasciitis?

Risk factors for plantar fasciitis include:

• Being a runner
• Wearing unsupportive shoes
• Carrying excess body weight
• Ballet or aerobic dancing
• Being 40-60
• Flat feet
• High arches
• Atypical walking patterns

Your risk also increases if you have a job that keeps you on your feet throughout the day.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

Diagnosing plantar fasciitis involves a review of your medical history and symptoms, a foot evaluation, and sometimes on-site X-rays or an MRI. Your podiatrist can also use X-rays to detect painful bone spurs.

They develop a personalized treatment based on how severe your condition is, your lifestyle, and your treatment preferences.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

The Cascade Foot & Ankle team recommends conservative treatments for plantar fasciitis before suggesting surgery. 

Treating plantar fasciitis can involve:

• Medication
• Custom-fitted orthotics (prescription shoe inserts)
• Physical therapy
• Athletic taping
• Night splints
• Shockwave therapy
• Ultrasound
• REMY laser treatment
• Steroid injections

Surgery is a last resort for severe pain that doesn’t ease with other treatments.

Schedule a plantar fasciitis evaluation at Cascade Foot & Ankle by phone today to ease heel discomfort.