Plantar
fasciitis
OR HEEL SPUR
One of the frequent causes of consultation at the Clinique de Podiatrie Montarville is heel pain. By reading this text you will know the distinction between plantar fasciitis and heel spur!
WHAT IS A PLANTAR FASCIITIS
About this condition
Plantar fasciitis (plantar fasciopathy) is an inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a fan-shaped ligament that attaches to the heel bone (calcaneum) up to the toes and forms the arch of the foot. People with plantar fasciitis experience intense pain in the heel and sometimes in the sole of the foot. The pain is often described as a needle or rock under the heel, which can radiate into the arch or the back and sides of the heel. The pain is often more present during the first steps in the morning, when getting up from a chair or at the end of the day. This pain often arrives gradually and worsens over time.
THE CAUSES
Several causes, alone or in combination, can lead to plantar fasciitis :
Rapid weight gain such as during pregnancy
Overweight
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Significant physical activity related to work or sports activities (increased frequency, duration and/or intensity)
Wearing inappropriate shoes (beach sandals, flat shoes, etc.)
Flat feet
Any other situation that causes stretching or inflammation of the plantar fascia (feet on a ladder rung for an extended period of time, etc.)
A consultation will allow podiatrists to identify the cause of your fasciitis and to offer you the appropriate treatments according to your condition and your goals.
Did you know...
In popular culture, heel pain is often referred to as heel spur. Why? Because the heel spur causes the same pain as the plantar fasciitis mentioned above. What distinguishes the two lesions is that plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the ligament (fascia) that is attached to the heel bone. The heel spur is the calcification of this ligament (fascia) at its base on the bone, which causes a horizontal bony outgrowth, visible on x-ray.
It is not possible to break the heel spur by various so-called therapeutic treatments. The spur will always be present. However, it is possible to manage or heal the pain in the heel. To do so, consult one of our podiatrists from the Clinique de Podiatrie Montarville. A variety of treatments, both single and in combination, are available to patients with this injury. Among these, apart from the conservative treatments of ice/heat, stretching, massage, analgesic/anti-inflammatory creams, we can offer analgesic laser treatments, taping/strapping, systemic anti-inflammatories, localized infiltration, heel pads, foot orthotics, etc.
A FEW TIPS
Whether you are in pain and/or waiting for your appointment with one of our podiatrists here are some tips:
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Move your feet and toes in all directions before getting out of bed and before getting up from a sitting position
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Wear shoes with an arch support such as sneakers
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Apply ice (10 minutes every hour) or a topical anti-inflammatory or analgesic cream
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Consult one of our podiatrists at the Clinique de Podiatrie Montarville