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Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the heel of your foot. It affects more than three million Americans every year. Read below to learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment options of plantar fasciitis.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue that connects your heal bone to your toes and supports the arch of your foot. Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of this ligament, and is the most common cause of heel pain among Americans. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

• Sharp, stabbing pain in the heel.

• Pain is usually the worst after waking up, but gets better after taking a few steps.

• Pain gradually gets worse as the day progresses.

• Pain after climbing stairs or standing for long periods.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is caused by a strain to the ligament. This can happen several ways, including:

• Walking or standing on hard surfaces for a long period of time.

• Wearing shoes that don’t fit properly.

• Having high arches or flat feet.

• Being overweight.

• Tight calf muscles or Achilles tendon.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, here are a few things you can try to relieve your pain:

• Give your feet a rest.

• Try not to walk, stand, or run on hard surfaces.

• Use ice to relieve pain and inflammation.

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers.

• Stretch the muscles in your feet and lower leg several times per day.

• Make sure your shoes fit properly and have sufficient arch support.

When at-home treatments are not enough, you should consult with a doctor. If you live in Fairfield County, Connecticut, help is available at Orthopaedic Specialty Group. The team of foot specialists at OSG can use a variety of treatment options to get you on the road to recovery. Visit our website to learn more or give us a call at (203) 337-2600.