“What are the treatment options for plantar fasciitis?”
I have plantar fasciitis and want to treat it. What are the treatment options?
14 Answers
There are several different treatments for plantar fasciitis. Stretching exercises the plantar fascia, frozen water bottle for stretching and cold therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, steroid injections, physical therapy, arch supports and possibly surgery.
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
Texas Foot WorksDallas, Athens and Gun Barrel City Texas214-340-8885
Jonathan M. Kletz, DPM
Texas Foot WorksDallas, Athens and Gun Barrel City Texas214-340-8885
Shoe inserts/orthotics, anti-inflammatories, activity modification, physical therapy/stretching, injections, and surgery, are the most common interventions.
Things you can start with: take 1800mg Ibuprofen a day (total) or 1000mg Naproxen a day if tolerated and safe for you. Freeze a plastic water bottle and roll it with your foot along your heel and arch for 5-10 minutes twice a day. Wear a higher heel ( even around the house) and only do the walking you have to do, no running or exercise involving weight-bearing while you have the problem. If these things don’t alleviate the problem, see a podiatrist.
Calf stretches 3 times a day or more. Super feet orthotics. Coldwater soaks. Physical therapy. Cortisone injection. Custom orthotics.
There are many treatment options. My preference is strappings followed by orthotics which provide about a 98 percent success rate within 2 weeks. Other options include physical therapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, and surgical release. I would avoid steroid injections…although they provide good short-term relief, they have been shown to decrease the fat pad in the heel which causes long-term problems.
Ice, stretching, arch supports, steroid injections, physical therapy, immobilization, surgery. These are a few options, your Podiatrist can help you get better using these and other treatments.
Stretching is the best treatment for plantar fasciitis. Home exercises to stretch your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia are the mainstay of treatment and reduce the chance of recurrence.
It may help to try to keep weight off your foot until the initial inflammation goes away. You can also apply ice to the sore area for 20 minutes 3-4 times a day to relieve your symptoms. Rolling a frozen water bottle on the bottom of your foot can be beneficial.
Your doctor may prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
About 90% of people with plantar fasciitis improve significantly after two months of initial treatment. You may be advised to use shoes with shock-absorbing soles or fitted with an off-the-shelf shoe insert like a rubber heel pad. Your foot may be taped into a specific position.
If your plantar fasciitis continues after a few months of conservative treatment, your doctor may inject your heel with steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. If you still have symptoms, you may need to wear a walking cast for 2-3 weeks or a positional splint when you sleep. In a few cases, surgery is needed for chronically contracted tissue.
It may help to try to keep weight off your foot until the initial inflammation goes away. You can also apply ice to the sore area for 20 minutes 3-4 times a day to relieve your symptoms. Rolling a frozen water bottle on the bottom of your foot can be beneficial.
Your doctor may prescribe a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
About 90% of people with plantar fasciitis improve significantly after two months of initial treatment. You may be advised to use shoes with shock-absorbing soles or fitted with an off-the-shelf shoe insert like a rubber heel pad. Your foot may be taped into a specific position.
If your plantar fasciitis continues after a few months of conservative treatment, your doctor may inject your heel with steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. If you still have symptoms, you may need to wear a walking cast for 2-3 weeks or a positional splint when you sleep. In a few cases, surgery is needed for chronically contracted tissue.
Stretching exercises ice cortisone shots and orthotics
Stretching, injections, night splints, nsaids, orthotics, surgery all can help.
There are many treatment options. If this is a new onset best way to start is by stretching the plantar ligament along with ice at the end of the day. Also, try to avoid wearing flat shoes and try to get a wedged shoe with arch support.
usually: orthotics, EPAT, physical therapy, injections, in office procedure, night splints, etc... please make an appointment to see me to talk, treatments changed depends on presence of heel spur, activities, life style, job/career, quality of life affected, etc...
Orthotics, stretching exercises, Ice, Anti-inflammatories, injections, physical therapy, appropriate shoe gear, and finally, surgery are all treatment options for plantar fasciitis.
Anti-inflammatory medication(s), tapping, padding, physical therapy (ie: ultrasound, excercise, etc.), Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, local injections, and surgery. Consult with a Board Certified Podiatric Surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgeons.
Plantar fasciitis is due to a biomechanical imbalance. Correcting the imbalance will help improve symptoms. Rest, ice and stretches can help. I recommend you make an appointment with a foot and ankle surgeon (podiatrist) for evaluation and treatment options
