Treatment and Prevention
The most common treatments for plantar fasciitis include:
- icing the affected area
- inserting custom-made orthotics into your shoes
- massaging the plantar fascia
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- steroid injections
- strengthening the foot
- wearing a night splint
- wearing shoes with arch support
- physical therapy
- stretching the calf muscles
- shockwave therapy or radiotherapy
Your doctor will determine what treatment is best for your condition.
To keep the plantar fascia lengthened as you sleep, your doctor may ask you to wear night splints. In the morning, taking your first steps is less painful because the plantar fascia remains stretched throughout the night.
Avoiding activities such as walking or running helps the healing process. Losing weight, if it is a factor in the condition, may help to reduce the stress placed on the plantar fascia.
Surgery is not a common treatment for this condition. Approximately 5% of people with plantar fasciitis require surgery if non-surgical methods do not help to relieve pain within a year. The surgical procedure involves making an incision in the plantar fascia in order to decrease the tension of the ligament.
Potential risks of this surgical procedure include:
- irritation of the nerves around the heel
- continued plantar fasciitis
- heel or foot pain
- infection
- flattening of the arch
- problems relating to the anesthetic
Stephanie Hochman, DPM, NY Podiatry, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.