It is a very common discomfort when you have subjected your feet to overexertion or have gained a lot of weight.

Stabbing pain on the sole of the foot (near the heel) is its most characteristic symptom. In general, the discomfort is more intense when taking the first steps when waking up, although it can also manifest itself by standing for a long time or getting up after sitting down, explains Dr. Baldwin Angelino, an orthopedic surgeon from Clinica Ricardo Palma.

This condition is caused by tension and mechanical stress when walking that generates small tears in the fascia. When they occur repeatedly, this tissue becomes irritated or inflamed and can degenerate. Therefore, it is very important to prevent fasciitis. How? Wearing appropriate footwear for both daily use and sports, maintaining a healthy weight, and doing stretching exercises on the sole of the foot on a regular basis.

Treatment

If you suffer from pain in the sole of the foot and suspect that you may have this disease, go to the traumatologist to design a treatment plan. This is usually three steps:

1. Combination of anti-inflammatory medication with different physiotherapy treatments. All this aimed at reducing inflammation of the area in the acute phase of the problem.
2. Carry out a correct study of the gait and assess whether the cause of the fasciitis is related to the shape of the foot and the way the patient walks. If this is the case, it is necessary to design and manufacture an insole that allows to “decontract” the fascia and to use heel cushions to relax the fascia in initial periods.
3. Once the acute phase is over, it is very important that the patient adopt correct stretching habits and proper use of footwear, both for normal life and for sports activities.

During this process it is recommended to lose weight and acquire a healthy lifestyle to avoid relapses. Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic heel pain that makes everyday activities difficult. You may change the way you walk to avoid the discomfort of this condition, which can cause foot, knee, hip, and back problems.

Dr. Baldwin Angelino
Orthopedist at Clinica Ricardo Palma

Source: www.peru21.pe