Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain on the bottom of the foot and is an inflammation in the band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that runs from the heel to the toes. This condition is most often caused by poor foot structure such as overly flat feet or high arches. t can also be caused by wearing non-supportive footwear on hard surfaces, spending long hours on your feet, or obesity. The pain from plantar fasciitis is usually a sharp, stabbing pain on the inside of the bottom of the heel that can feel like a knife sticking into your heel. Pain from plantar fasciitis is usually most severe when you first stand on your feet in the morning. It will usually subside, but can return with prolonged standing or walking or getting up after long periods of sitting.

The House Speaker Has Spoken!

Former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay hammered through a samba with partner Cheryl Burke during Monday's episode of Dancing With the Stars, despite stress fractures on both of his feet. Producers and doctors also advised him to withdraw from the competition. But Tuesday, DeLay's "touch and go" participation officially became go.According to Marc Malkin's blog on E!: Tom DeLay is saying good-bye to Dancing With the Stars. I just got word that the former Republican congressman will announce on tonight's results show that his injuries have left him no choice but to drop out of the competition.With stress fractures in both of his feet, the 62-year-old Texan performed the samba last night against the advice of his doctors and DWTS producers. DeLay started feeling pain before the season even premiered...Just days after he began training with Cheryl Burke, he was off to see a doctor.

"They put me in Latin shoes with high heels, and my toes almost fell off the first week," DeLay told me at the time. "So I went to a podiatrist, and I got a little problem with my feet. A cortisone shot cured me up."

Don't let stress fractures (or any other foot problem) get you down! Call Dr. Vail today to help you relieve your foot and ankle pain! 419-423-1888

Understanding Plantar Fasciitis

Eli Manning, the quarterback for the New York Giants football team, has been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis after injuring his right heel in the fourth quarter of the Giants' win over Kansas City. He has been reported to have pain, and inflammation/swelling around his heel.

Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tendon which connects the heel to the toes along the bottom of the foot. This injury is common not only for athletes. It is often the result of overuse, acute trauma (like in Manning's case), wearing footwear without adequate supports, and working/standing/walking on hard surfaces. The condition is usually conspicuous through symptoms like pain in and around the heel and bottom of the foot, tightness in the arch of the foot, and swelling and inflammation of the heel and tendon. Often people experience the pain from this injury in the morning, and it subsides as the tendon stretches out during the course of the day. It is also common to experience pain after sitting (resting) and getting back up after being on your feet for extended periods.

There are a number of treatments for plantar fascia. Taping can help relieve the pressure on the tendon, as can wearing a night splint over night to avoid tightening of the tendon. Often a stretching program or physical therapy can help strengthen the plantar fascia. Orthotic inserts for the patient's shoes are a very common treatment as well, and they tend to be effective even in difficult cases. Cortisone shots are also recommended frequently. Our office also offers APC (autologous platelet concentration) injections and ESWT (electronic shock wave therapy) to aid in sever cases of plantar fascia. The APC injection helped Hines Ward return from a knee injury just in time to aid the Steelers in their 2009 Superbowl win. One or a combination of these treatments could help Manning return to good playing condition and reduce his pain throughout the season.

If you are experiencing pain from plantar fascia, or any foot pain, do not hesitate to contact our office. Many people delay the treatment of this condition because they think they need to just bear the pain. This is not true. There is no reason to suffer when we can help you find relief.