If you are not able to walk properly due to your heels feeling sore and achy, you need to figure out the underlying cause for it. While there are plenty of conditions that could interfere with your daily life, almost two million people are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis every year. Although some patients treat this condition at home by using an arch support sleeve while others head over for Advil or naproxen to the nearest CVS Pharmacy, because the company maintains its quality of pills and services by carrying out CVS surveys. However, the best way is to first get it diagnosed by a doctor and seek treatment from them. Educating yourself with plantar fasciitis is also important to know its cause and treatment, read below:

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

The thick ligament that connects the bottom of the heels with the front of your foot is called the plantar fascia. Whereas plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the fascia caused by excessive pressure on your feet.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Your fascia supports the arch and muscles of your feet. Upon extreme pressure or stretching, it gets tiny tears on its surface, causing inflammation and ache.
Usually, women are exposed to the risk of plantar fasciitis and a pregnant woman in the final trimester may also experience it.

Obesity is also another cause of this condition as your plantar fascia ligaments are not able to bear your excessive body weight, which ultimately causes it to rupture.
Athletes or people who tend to stand for extended hours during the day due to their job also put them at the risk of plantar fasciitis.

If you wear thin soles with poor arch support, it also causes your fascia ligaments to get bruised easily.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

So, when should you contact your doctor? If your first steps after waking up in the morning or after a long time of inactivity cause severe pain, you should get it diagnosed by a professional. Even if it gets better with activity, the symptoms will always return, if not treated properly.

How to Diagnose Plantar Fasciitis?

After considering your symptoms, a doctor will physically examine your feet. In order to make sure that there isn’t any other problem than plantar fasciitis, they may even ask you to get the results of the following:

  • MRI (to rule out fractures)
  • An X-ray (to assess arthritis or bone fractures)

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

You can treat it at home by icing, using braces, and getting plenty of rest. Anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed by your doctor for healing and pain relief. If this doesn’t alleviate your symptoms, then your doctor may inject a corticosteroid in the injured part of your ligament.

Plantar Fasciitis Exercises

A physical therapist can also help you ease the pain in your heels by guiding you on exercises to strengthen your lower leg muscles. They can also instruct you to walk in a way that doesn’t put stress on your fascia.

Besides this, you can also gently stretch your calves and fascia to help loosen muscles and relieve pain. However, you should take a break from overly aerobic exercises.