Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

Spring Branch Podiatry, PLLC

Podiatrist Foot & Ankle Surgeons & Ankle and Foot Surgeons located in Houston, TX

At any given time, about 2 million Americans are suffering from plantar fasciitis. This common but painful condition can affect your quality of life and prevent you from working and exercising. Randall L. Beckman, DPM, FACFAS, and the team at Spring Branch Podiatry, PLLC in Houston, Texas, have years of experience diagnosing and treating plantar fasciitis. To request your consultation today, call the office today.

Plantar Fasciitis Q&A

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common health problem characterized by sharp, shooting pain at the bottom of your heel or in your arch.

Your plantar fascia is a ligament, a thick band of tough tissue, that runs from your heel to your toes. Whenever you take a step, go for a jog, or climb a flight of stairs, your plantar fascia acts like a bowstring, encouraging balance and support.

Your plantar fascia experiences wear-and-tear throughout your life. This causes small tears to form in the ligament. When these tears become inflamed, it causes pain and irritation.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The most common symptom associated with plantar fasciitis is a sharp shooting or stabbing pain at the bottom of the heel or in the arch. Pain caused by plantar fasciitis is usually the worst first thing in the morning. You can also experience pain after exercising or standing for long periods.

Who is at risk of developing plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can strike at any time. Things that increase your risk of developing plantar fasciitis include:

  • Tight calf muscles
  • Having flat feet
  • Having a high arch
  • Being obese
  • Increased activity

You’re also more likely to experience plantar fasciitis if you participate in certain physical activities. For example, long-distance running, ballet, and aerobic dance place more stress on your plantar fascia, increasing your risk of inflammation and pain.

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

The team at Spring Branch Podiatry, PLLC usually recommends conservative treatments to ease heel or arch pain caused by plantar fasciitis. Depending on your individual needs, they could recommend:

  • Custom-made orthotics (shoe inserts)
  • Cortisone injections
  • Platelet-rich plasma injections
  • Daily stretching and ice therapy
  • Night splits
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen
  • Extracorporeal shockwave therapy

If your heel pain doesn’t improve after several months of nonsurgical treatment, the team might recommend surgery. Depending on the cause of the plantar fasciitis, your provider might recommend gastrocnemius recession or plantar fascia release.

A gastrocnemius recession involves lengthening the calf muscles, which increases your range of motion in the ankle and takes stress off the plantar fascia. A gastrocnemius recession may be helpful for those who have tight calf muscles despite regularly performing calf stretches. 

If you have a normal range of motion in your ankle, your provider may suggest a plantar fascia release. During this procedure, your provider partially cuts the plantar fascia to relieve tension.

Don’t let plantar fasciitis prevent you from living an active, mobile lifestyle. Request an appointment at Spring Branch Podiatry, PLLC today by calling the office.