Podiatrist - Scottsdale
South Scottsdale Office
North Scottsdale Office
NBA players today believe it's ok to take days off whenever they want. Most recently the likes of Chicago Bulls "all-star deserving" bigman is sitting out due to heel pain. I remember back when players never sat out games, and they played football! (hint: he threw for a team named the packers.) I suppose not everyone can put up 50 pts with a cold en route to a basketball dynasty, eh eh MJ, but heel pain, really? It is true, people at risk or untreated can develop serious daily heel pain.
If you are experiencing pain under the middle of your heel when you get out of bed or when standing from a long-seated position, you probably have plantar fascittis. Plantar refers to the location below your foot. Fascia is soft tissue, and the suffix "-itis" means "inflammation of". Professional athletes such as Joakim Noah and Yao Ming are at especially high risk for developing foot problems like this one. This is because two big factors for developing plantar fasciitis include: being heavy and being highly active (such as runners).
The plantar fascial band holds together the arch of our feet. It starts at your heel and this is where the pain occurs. There is a lot of tension on the fascial band stretching it, especially when people are overweight or running a lot. With treatment the plantar fascia can be relieved and pain hopefully will subside. Only the most extreme cases need surgery and this is only after 2+ years of conservative treatments. Thankfully new advanced treatments such as the use of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy are still being developed for this conditon today.
The most conservative treatments are the best place to begin. This includes new shoe gear, daily stretching, and an over-the counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to wear proper shoes. When battling plantar fasciitis you should be wearing proper shoe gear at all times, even around the house! Proper shoes are the right size and have a rigid sole that bends at the ball of your foot ONLY. Sometimes a custom molded orthotic as prescribed by a podiatrist can be beneficial as well. Daily stretches will give you further relief. One easy way to stretch the plantar fascia is by standing (one foot) on a small ball, like a golf ball, and rolling it under the arch of your foot. Some people take stretching a step further with night splints. Night splints can be ordered through your podiatrist. They are worn overnight and have provided a lot of success. If you believe you are battling plantar fasciitis, do not wait for itto subside on its own. Be proactive and start with these tips.