One of the more common conditions that a podiatrist will deal with is plantar fasciitis, mostly because it is among the most common causes of heel pain. Plantar fasciitis is caused when the plantar fascia ligament in your foot becomes stressed or inflamed, which can lead to substantial pain. Listed below are just a few of the ways that a podiatrist can help you deal with plantar fasciitis.
Lifestyle Changes
One of the first treatment options that a podiatrist will try is to determine if the strain on your plantar fascia ligament is a result of your lifestyle. For example, a common cause of plantar fasciitis is being overweight as the extra weight can put a lot of strain on your feet. In addition to determining if you need to lose weight to relieve the pain, the podiatrist can also observe the way that you walk.
The primary reason that the podiatrist will observe how you walk is because an incorrect or uneven gait can strain the plantar fascia. For example, if your feet roll inward rather than staying landing on the outside of your heel as you walk, then that gait will inflame and stress the plantar fascia.
Orthotics
Another treatment option that a podiatrist will try is a custom orthotic. A custom orthotic can be very useful as they can make your feet much more comfortable if you have to stand or walk a lot during your work day, which is a common cause of plantar fasciitis. In addition, custom orthotics can also be used to compensate for high arches in order to alleviate heel pain.
Surgery
Finally, surgery is the last resort for dealing with plantar fasciitis, but it is sometimes necessary to deal with heel spurs that can develop due to the plantar fasciitis or if other treatment options have failed. Heel spurs are buildups of calcium that develop on the heel and cause it to be very painful to walk.
Surgery can be used to remove just the heel spur or to cut the plantar fascia ligament. Cutting the plantar fascia ligament is often used because it can alleviate the tension in the ligament and help prevent future heel spurs from developing.
Make an appointment with a podiatrist today in order to determine if your heel pain is a symptom of plantar fasciitis and to discuss treatment options. A podiatrist can help you treat plantar fasciitis through a variety of lifestyle changes and orthotics while also offering surgery as a last resort.
Share17 May 2016
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