Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

What is plantar fasciitis?

A thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your toes to your heel bone. This tissue band becomes inflamed with plantar fasciitis. The pain of plantar fasciitis is usually worse in the morning and gets better when you get up and begin moving around. 

Plantar fasciitis is more prevalent in runners and athletes. You also have an increased risk of getting plantar fasciitis if you’re obese or overweight or if you wear shoes without proper support.

Plantar fasciitis is also associated with bone spurs — bony protrusions that develop along bone edges, typically where bones meet each other in your joints.

If you have discomfort and pain in the bottom of your foot, you might have plantar fasciitis.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

The cause of plantar fasciitis isn’t always clear and certain factors might increase your risk of developing the condition, such as:

• Certain foot conditions like flat feet
• Aging
• Some forms of exercise like long-distance running
• Occupations where you stand on your feet for long periods of time
• Obesity

The chronic heel pain of plantar fasciitis can get in the way of your daily life and impair your functioning. If you’re changing the way you walk to compensate for the pain, this can cause even more problems with your hips, knee, foot, and back.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Following a diagnosis, physical examination, medical history, and any necessary imaging — such as in-office X-rays — Dr. Hopkins might suggest several effective treatments for your plantar fasciitis, including:

• Lifestyle changes like nutrition counseling
• Weight loss if you have excess body weight
• Regular appropriate exercising and stretching
• Custom orthotics
• Assistive devices like a cane
• Cold and heat therapies, such as warm compress and ice packs
• Vitamin supplementation
• Medications, such as painkillers, steroids, and anti-inflammatories

Dr. Hopkins also offers sports medicine and stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy involves simple injections of beneficial stem cells into the target area. Stem cells are primitive cells that can self-replicate, differentiate into multiple tissues, and reduce inflammation. 

Custom orthotics are also especially beneficial for treating plantar fasciitis and correcting certain foot problems.

Find relief from your plantar fasciitis with compassionate podiatric care. Schedule online or call South Sound Foot & Ankle today.