Sports Medicine for Plantar Fasciitis Pain: Get Back on Your Feet Safely and with Confidence

If you have plantar fasciitis, you’re not alone. It’s one of the leading causes of discomfort on the underside of the heel. It can come on slowly or suddenly, but it always indicates tiny tears and irritation in the ligament on the bottom of your foot.

Our team at Premier Foot and Ankle Center sees plantar fasciitis symptoms on a regular basis, and we have good news: Over 90% of cases improve without the need for injections or surgery.

Do you have plantar fasciitis? Here’s how we can use sports medicine to get you back on your feet again.

Understanding the source of your heel pain

As we mentioned above, plantar fasciitis involves the ligament on the bottom of your foot. This thick band of tissue — known as the plantar fascia —- connects your heel bone to your toes. It helps support your arch and maintains proper foot mechanics when you walk. 

Because of the location and role your plantar fascia plays in your body, it’s susceptible to conditions like plantar fasciitis, especially if you spend long periods of time on your feet or a lot of time walking or jogging. 

That’s because certain things can cause added stress, irritation, and inflammation to this tissue, such as:

• Your body weight
• The shoes you’re wearing
• The surfaces where you stand, walk, or run
• The shape or structure of your foot
• Physical activity, like running or walking

Less often, you can also develop plantar fasciitis because of medical conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Don’t wait to schedule a consultation if you experience new or unexplained pain on the bottom of your heel or foot. 

We want to resolve your discomfort as quickly as possible and keep your condition from worsening over time. Plantar fasciitis can affect how you walk and lead to other complications involving your feet, hips, and back.

Diagnosing and treating plantar fasciitis

We can diagnose plantar fasciitis during an office visit so you can begin your treatment immediately. We even offer in-office diagnostic imaging tests, like X-rays, so we can accurately identify any tears and inflammation in your foot tissue and rule out other causes of heel pain, like bone spurs.

One unique aspect of our treatment plans involves a sports medicine consultation. This plays an important role in treating ankle and foot injuries that develop because of sports and repetitive physical activity, including plantar fasciitis.

Based on this comprehensive evaluation, we can create the ideal treatment strategy so you get back to your favorite activities fast, whether you’re on your feet at work or pounding the pavement on a run.

In order to relieve plantar fasciitis pain, your foot tissue has to heal. This often requires a combination of approaches, such as:

• Rest
• Over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications
• Custom-made orthotic inserts
• Steroid injections
• Physical therapy

We also offer personalized recommendations to help you get back in the game safely. These guidelines often include proper warmup and cooldown exercises that reduce your risk of foot and ankle injuries, as well as stretching exercises to ease and prevent plantar fasciitis symptoms.

Do you have heel pain? Don’t wait to get a diagnosis. Contact our Premier Foot and Ankle Center offices in Worcester or Webster, Massachusetts, to schedule a consultation today. We can have you on your feet and pain-free in no time.