Plantar Fasciitis: A Common Cause Of Heel Pain

One of the common causes of heel pain is plantar fasciitis. This is due to an inflamed ligament called the plantar fascia. 

The plantar fascia is a strong connective tissue that attaches to the calcaneus bone or heel bone to the toes of the foot. The plantar fascia is very important because it maintains the arch of the foot.

When the plantar fascia undergoes tremendous stress, especially among athletes, microscopic injuries can occur anywhere in the planter fascia. This small injuries can get irritated and can cause can cause swelling and pain.

Typical Causes of Heel Pain

Plantar fasciitis is common among athletes like runners, basketball players, those who play football or baseball, and anything that requires the use of the foot. This is due to the enormous physical demand needed in these sports which usually put a lot of strain on the feet causing injury to the plantar fascia.

Another cause of plantar fasciitis is if you have weak foot ligaments. You don’t have to be an athlete to have plantar fasciitis. If your plantar fascia is weak, then this will get injured easily. Also, plantar fasciitis is common among the elderly due to natural wear and tear of the ligaments.

Also, wearing the wrong footwear can lead to plantar fasciitis. If your shoe is too small or large, wearing high heels, shoes that are too soft and don’t provide arch support, all of these factors can cause foot pain due to plantar fasciitis.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is severe pain below the heel when you take your first step out of bed in the morning, or when your get out of the car after a long drive. But the pain gradually reduces after a few steps; however, pain can still recur during the day.

Diagnosis

The best way to diagnose this condition is to visit a foot specialist or podiatrist. The symptoms of plantar fasciitis can be similar to other foot conditions, so it is important to accurately diagnose the condition to provide the right medical treatment.