Plantar Fasciitis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment in Chicago

More than 3 million Americans suffer from plantar fasciitis each year, so it’s understandable that many people are curious about treatments for the condition and its symptoms. Fortunately, there are several options when looking at how to treat plantar fasciitis. Many of these options can be treated on one’s own. You can continue the healing process and find relief from plantar fasciitis at home after receiving a diagnosis and seeing a professional to create a treatment plan.

At Grandview Health Parners Chicago, we’ve spent years assisting patients in finding relief from plantar fasciitis. We can pinpoint the painful condition and develop a tailored treatment plan to put you on the road to recovery thanks to our extensive understanding of the muscle, ligament, tendon, and bone structure of the body.

Learn more about plantar fasciitis in the following paragraphs, including what it is, its causes, typical symptoms, how chiropractic care can help you, and how to avoid it in the future.

Plantar Fasciitis in Chicago: What Is It?

Understanding plantar fasciitis is the first step in learning about treatment options. Your plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue, runs from the back of your heel to your toes. Your entire foot is covered in the plantar fascia.

This band supports the arch while offering a good range of motion to stabilize your foot. You’ll probably feel pain in the affected area if the plantar fascia is inflamed or irritated. Without a formal diagnosis, it can be difficult to determine whether your heel and foot pain is due to plantar fasciitis.

Medical imaging may occasionally be necessary to confirm that you have the condition and to create a suitable treatment plan. However, by looking at your foot, going over your symptoms, and asking you a few questions about your daily activities and lifestyle, a skilled professional can typically diagnose plantar fasciitis.

This ailment is also known as “policemen’s heel.”

Why Does Plantar Fasciitis Occur in Chicago?

Despite the fact that plantar fasciitis is very common, many people are unaware of the condition or the reasons why the tissue beneath their foot becomes inflamed. When diagnosing a patient with plantar fasciitis, doctors frequently identify a number of common causes.

The following are typical causes and risk factors for plantar fasciitis:

activity that requires you to stand for extended periods of time, whether new or increased.
Sports like running (especially on uneven surfaces), gymnastics, soccer, basketball, football, and more that put a lot of stress on your feet and heels.
prolonged hard floor standing. This is typical in a variety of occupations, including teaching, nursing, factory work, retail work, and more.
having high arches or flat feet naturally.
muscles in the calf being tight.
being extremely overweight.
The condition is most prevalent in people between the ages of 40 and 60.
Compared to women, men are more likely to develop the condition.
a history of Achilles tendon problems.
Your chiropractor will go over these causes and risk factors with you, point out which are probably causing the condition, and then give you advice on how to get relief from plantar fasciitis.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis in Chicago

Without being aware of what plantar fasciitis is, you might already be experiencing symptoms. Once you are aware of the symptoms, you can seek medical attention to get your feet better. Many individuals think that foot and heel pain is an inevitable part of life. But if the pain is persistent and doesn’t go away on its own after a short while, that points to a bigger issue.

Knowing how to treat plantar fasciitis is the first step in beginning your journey to a life free of foot pain after learning more about the symptoms.

Plantar fasciitis signs and symptoms include:

• Discomfort on the bottom of your foot, especially close to the heel.
• Foot pain that sets in as you take your first few steps out of bed in the morning.
• Foot pain after standing up after spending a lot of time sitting, such as while watching a movie, traveling for a long time, or flying. After a short while, the pain might go away, but it might come back after another rest period.
• Pain that does not occur during the activity but worsens after exercise or work.
• Your feet are swollen or red.
• Your foot’s arch may feel tight or stiff, and you could lose some range of motion.

How Can I Treat Plantar Fasciitis in Chicago?

After a proper diagnosis and examination of your lifestyle and activities, you may be able to find relief from plantar fasciitis. You can start feeling better by learning what relieves plantar fasciitis from the chiropractors at Grandview Health Partners Chicago.

For the relief of plantar fasciitis, there are numerous standard treatment options. Knowing that these treatment options are non-invasive and don’t involve surgery brings relief to many patients. Many are holistic and natural.

More than 90% of patients experience relief from plantar fasciitis without surgical intervention, according to statistics. Surgery is typically only advised for people whose symptoms don’t get better after a year of intensive nonsurgical care.

A chiropractor in Chicago can frequently assist you in identifying the best course of action and treatment plan for your particular condition.

Rest
When treating plantar fasciitis, a professional will first advise rest and avoiding standing for extended periods of time. For many people, this is easier said than done, especially if your job is the cause of the condition.

If you’re an athlete, your chiropractor might advise you to take a break from your sport and switch to a low-impact activity for a while, like swimming or cycling. At Grandview Health Parners Chicago, we have skilled sports chiropractors on staff who can assess your particular condition and give you advice on how to treat plantar fasciitis while enabling you to return to your sport as soon as possible.

Leg and Foot Support
To further stabilize the area, you might be advised to put your foot or leg in a walking boot. For a short period of time, you might also need to use crutches to prevent putting pressure on your foot. In extremely rare cases, a doctor might advise that you cast your foot and lower leg to offer adequate support, restrict movement, and relieve pressure.

Stretch exercises and physical therapy
We provide in-office physical therapy services at Grandview Health Parners Chicago. Physical therapy typically involves a series of appointments as we monitor your progress and adjust your treatment strategy as necessary. Additionally, in order to maintain your progress between visits, we’ll give you exercises to do at home.

These at-home exercises probably involve a little stretching. Since the condition is frequently made worse by your calves’ and feet’s tight muscles, it’s important to loosen up these muscles and increase elasticity.

The calf stretches, which take just a few minutes each day, are the most popular at-home stretches that we advise. A plantar fascia stretch is also necessary. During office visits, we’ll show you how to correctly carry out these exercises to prevent provoking pain.

Radiofrequency Therapy
At Grandview Health Parners Chicago, another painless, non-invasive treatment option is ultrasound therapy. In order to relieve plantar fasciitis, this technique uses a hand-held instrument that targets the damaged tissue and breaks it up.

Over-the-Counter Drugs
Anti-inflammatory OTC medications may help with plantar fasciitis since the condition is brought on by inflammation of the tissue on the bottom of your feet. Ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen are some of the most popular NSAIDs used for this purpose. Prescription drugs, however, sometimes have harmful interactions and side effects. Never begin taking new medications without first talking to your doctor.

Orthotic or supportive footwear
Resting and staying off your feet isn’t always a realistic option. For instance, NSAIDs are only advised for short-term use if you are a teacher, who may need to stay on their feet all day long regardless of the circumstances. Stretching might be beneficial, but excessively using your feet on a hard surface over time will inevitably result in problems.

In this situation, switching from conventional sneakers, flats, or heels to specialty footwear that offers additional cushioning and arch support is advised. It might only occasionally be necessary to purchase brand-new footwear. You can buy inserts today to put in your current favorite shoes.

In addition to adding supportive inserts, it’s critical to replace your shoes on a regular basis if you’re an athlete. It’s time to buy new sneakers when you notice your current ones are worn out. The inserts in sneakers thin out as they get older and are worn out, putting more pressure on your heel.

Plantar fasciitis Prevention Techniques
You can do a few great things to stop plantar fasciitis from recurring in the future. Among the best things you can do are to maintain a healthy weight, wear supportive shoes, ice your feet after prolonged periods of standing or exercise, and stretch frequently.

Make a Time Appointment
Find relief from plantar fasciitis today if you are experiencing foot and heel pain. Our physical therapists and sports chiropractors can assist with the diagnosis and give you advice on how to manage plantar fasciitis at home in between office visits.

We make treatment convenient by offering weekend appointments, extended evening hours, and multiple offices throughout the state of Illinois. Make an appointment with us right away to start receiving chiropractic adjustments and other forms of treatment.

 

grandviewhealthpartners On April 26, 2023   /   Chiropractor