What Exactly Is Plantar Fasciitis?

If you are looking to make a difference in the Broome County community, a great way to do so is with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. This organization is committed to fighting hunger through the use of education. Their Hunger 101 workshop helps Binghamton youth understand the realities of poverty and hunger, while The Hunger Scholars Program is a multi-lesson curricula series.

Education efforts make a world of difference in many areas of life. In addition to social problems, educating oneself on health issues is a great way to prevent conditions like plantar fasciitis and other sources of foot and heel pain. Of course, Southern Tier Podiatry is here to provide treatment when needed, but we would rather know you were able to avoid a painful condition in the first place!

As we look at understanding plantar fasciitis, the best place to start is with the tissue affected by this common overuse injury. The plantar fascia is a band of fibrous connective tissue running from the heel to the base of the toes on the bottom of the foot. Its primary responsibilities are to support the foot arch and assist in the distribution of weight with every step.

When this valuable ligament is repeatedly strained, often due to overuse, it leads to tiny tears in the tissue. The tearing results in swelling, inflammation, and pain in the heel. The pain is often most severe with the first steps in the morning or following an extended period of rest or inactivity. This particular phenomenon is known as post-static dyskinesia.

There are various causes of plantar fasciitis, including:

• Overpronation (feet roll too far inward) which often is experienced by individuals who have flatfeet.
• Supination (opposite of overpronation), which is often experienced by individuals who have high, rigid foot arches.
• Standing, walking, or running for extended periods of time, especially on hard surfaces.
• Shoes that are worn out or don’t fit properly.
• Tight calf muscles or Achilles tendons.

When you experience sharp, stabbing heel pain that follows inactivity, it is rather likely that you have a case of plantar fasciitis. We can confirm this for you, or determine if another issue is causing the pain, and then create a treatment plan. Feel free to contact us for more information. Call our Greater Binghamton, NY office at (607) 217-5668 or simply schedule an appointment online today.