Plantar Fasciitis A Common Foot Problem

By Sohaila Mosaddegh, DPT

Have you ever thought about the work your feet do every day? They not only support your body, but are also responsible for transporting your body all day. Your feet are the foundation of your physical form, but most people treat their feet as though they could detach them at the end of the day. We mindlessly abuse our feet until we are injured or in pain. Even then we don't treat them like we should.

One of the most common foot maladies people suffer from is plantar fasciitis. It even affects the pediatric population, especially among young athletes. Classic symptoms include intense heel and arch pain, which worsens when you get up to walk after periods of rest or first thing in the morning. Plantar fasciitis has been recognized as one of the most common chronic and, often times, most difficult foot problems to treat.

One in six, or 43.1 million people in the U.S., have foot problems

Women are nine times more likely to develop a foot problem than a man due to improperly fitting shoes

More than two million Americans receive treatment for proximal plantar fasciitis every year

About 90% of people who have plantar fasciitis recover with conservative treatments in just a few months

Approximately 10% of patients develop chronic plantar fasciitis, which often causes disabling symptoms

Your physical therapist can offer effective treatment for plantar fasciitis. Physical therapy visits consist of patient training, manual therapy, consultation, and observation to modify variables that can worsen the situation. You will also receive empowering information to help you manage future flare-ups independently.