friday 05,May,2012 Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of chronic heel pain in adults. It has been described with various terms associated with physical activities e.g. tennis heel, joggers heel or policeman’s heel.

Plantar fasciitis occurs when there are repeated small injuries to the fascia; this is usually due to physical exercise, over pronation or poor footwear. These injuries, which occur as a part of daily stress on the foot, are too tiny to be repaired. When there are repeated injuries to the fascia, a new tougher scar tissue forms. The new tissue is not as supple or elastic as the original one. This scar tissue gives rise to the condition where the ability of the fascia to maintain the arch is slowly lost, as the plantar fascia is not as flexible as it needs to be. When the plantar fascia is damaged, it effectively shortens due to the scarring from injury. This stretching leads to pain, as the plantar fascia is stressed. The pull at the heel bone, where it is attached, can eventually give rise to the formation of small bone extensions at the heel bone (heel spurs), where the fascia is attached.

Repeated stress on the fascia is the common reason for the development of this condition. Excessive weight is also a common cause. People who stand for long hours are also common victims. Walking or standing on hard ground or wearing shoes with hard heels, can also lead to this condition or aggravate an existing one. Aging that leads to loss of the flexibility of the fascia is also commonly associated with plantar fasciitis. People with problems in the arch of the foot, like those with flat foot or very high arches, are susceptible to plantar fasciitis. Sports people or people who are active can suffer from plantar fasciitis if they have faulty foot mechanics that can result in over pronation.

Orthotics help to limit over pronation and prevent pain by providing adequate support to the arch of the foot and easing the tension of the fascia, allowing it to heal as well as function more efficiently.

Treatment of heel pain, heel spur, and plantar fasciitis can include rest, icing the injury, anti-inflammatory medications, strapping, stretching and strengthening, orthotics; and in some cases, cortisone injections and even surgery

Orthotics to treat heel pain and plantar fasciitis can be found on http://docpods.com/heel-pain for those who want to try to find a way to heal their feet without invasive procedures.