Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis
Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis
Comfort Shoe Specialists of St. Louis is the number one “go to” source for solutions for solving heel pain and plantar fasciitis. Comfort Shoe Specialists orthotics reduce motion, whether from over-pronation or over-use. From runners to walkers to just everyday work and play, plantar fasciitis is common.
Plantar Fasciitis is primarily due to poor shoe support, ill fitting footwear, and lack of support for the four arches of the feet: longitudinal arch, metatarsal arch, cuboid arch and transverse arch. Our evaluation and assessment uncovers what bio-mechinal difficulties you are having,and increases your education about your foot weakness, strengths, and requirements.
The Plantar Fascia is unique to humanoids because of our upright stance. This thick fibrous tendon/muscle holds the bones of the foot together, stretching from the calcaneus (heel bone) to the phalanges (toes).
Excessive motion, generally from over-pronation, causes micro tears, inflammation, and pain. When the tears heal, scar tissue forms, making the Plantar Fascia less flexible and even more susceptible to injury. Plantar Fasciitis can usually be healed with proper supportive footwear (inserts/orthotics and shoes), rest, and consistent gentle stretching (2 times/day at least).
Contributing Factors to Plantar Fasciitis:
- Flat (pronated) feet
- High, arched rigid supinated feet
- Poor shoe support
- Short Shoes!!!
- Walking/running uphill
- Soft Terrain (walking on sand, for example)
- Increasing Age
- Sudden weight increase
- Sudden increase in activity (new job on feet, runners)
- Tight Calf Muscles (Stretch, stretch, stretch!)
Heel Spurs are caused by repetitive tearing and injury of the Plantar Fascia at the connection point with the calcaneus (heel bone). Layers of calcium form the bone spur and it can be quite painful. The spur does not cause the pain, even though it may feel that it is coming through the bottom of your heel.
The pain is caused from the constant stress or tearing on the Plantar Fascia at the point of the Spur that causes the pain. This is why the pain is usually worse after periods of rest.
Comfort Shoe Specialists of St. Louis has a solution that heals the plantar fascia through conservative footwear therapy and stretching. If you suffer from plantar fasciitis or heel spurs pain, schedule an assessment/evaluation with one of our pedorthists then they will present our program for healing solutions that work!
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