(303) 292-9992

Your First Visit

Patient Intake

Now Accepting Medicare!

Plantar Fasciitis

Conditions We Treat

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis causes pain in the bottom of the heel. The plantar fascia is a thick, weblike ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. It acts as a shock absorber and supports the arch of your foot, helping you walk.

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common orthopedic complaints. Your plantar fascia ligaments experience a lot of wear and tear in your daily life. Too much pressure on your feet can damage or tear the ligaments. The plantar fascia becomes inflamed, and the inflammation causes heel pain and stiffness.

The cause of plantar fasciitis discomfort is still unclear. A 2003 study suggested that the condition may involve degenerative conditions rather than inflammation of the plantar fascia. Because fasciitis means “inflammation of a fascia,” a better name may be plantar fasciosis. At Downtown’s Healthcare, we look at the underlying cause of the problem and fix it. If caught early enough the dwindling spiral of Plantar Fasciitis can be stopped and a future debilitating pain can be avoided.

Free 15 Minute Phone Consultation

Plantar Fasciitiis Q & A

What symptoms does plantar fasciitis cause?
The major complaint of those with plantar fasciitis is pain at the bottom of the heel or sometimes at the bottom mid-foot area. It usually affects just one foot, but it can affect both feet.

Pain from plantar fasciitis develops gradually over time. The pain can be dull or sharp. Some people feel a burning or ache on the bottom of the foot extending outward from the heel.

The pain is usually worse in the morning when you take your first steps out of bed, or if you’ve been sitting or lying down for a while. Climbing stairs can be very difficult due to heel stiffness.

After prolonged activity, the pain can flare up due to increased irritation or inflammation.

People with plantar fasciitis don’t usually feel pain during the activity, but rather just after stopping.

The interdisciplinary health care team at Downtown’s Healthcare works together to develop a plan that helps you get relief from these symptoms so you can avoid surgery or long-term use of pain medication.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis:
Active men and women between the ages of 40 and 70 are at the highest risk for developing plantar fasciitis especially living here in Colorado. It’s also slightly more common in women than men. Women who are pregnant often experience bouts of plantar fasciitis, particularly during late pregnancy.

You’re at a greater risk of developing plantar fasciitis if you’re overweight or obese. This is due to the increased pressure on your plantar fascia ligaments, especially if you have sudden weight gain.

If you’re a long-distance runner, you may be more likely to develop plantar fascia problems. You’re also at risk if you have a very active job that involves being on your feet often, such as working in a factory or being a restaurant server.

If you have structural foot problems, such as very high arches or very flat feet, you may develop plantar fasciitis. Tight Achilles tendons, which are the tendons attaching your calf muscles to your heels, may also result in plantar fascia pain. Simply wearing shoes with soft soles and poor arch support can also result in plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis isn’t typically the result of heel spurs. Doctors used to believe that heel spurs caused pain in people with plantar fasciitis, but this isn’t the case.

What to expect from plantar fasciitis treatment?
Home treatments like rest, icing, and using braces and anti-inflammatory drugs are often the first ways to treat plantar fasciitis. If those don’t ease the pain, a natural injection like PRP or a tissue transplant can be injected directly into the damaged section of the ligament can help. At Downtown’s Healthcare we have helped many people avoid surgery and decrease medications. These procedures are done right her in our office.

We use an ultrasound device to help determine the best place for the injection. They can also apply pain creams to the skin of your heel or the arch of your foot. Physical therapy is a key part of treatment for plantar fasciitis. It can help stretch your plantar fascia and Achilles tendons. Our rehab technicians can show you exercises to strengthen your lower leg muscles, helping to stabilize your walk and lessen the workload on your plantar fascia.

If pain continues and other methods aren’t working, your doctor may recommend shock wave therapy. In this therapy, sound waves bombard your heel to stimulate healing within the ligament.

What are available plantar fasciitis treatments?
Patients suffering from Plantar Fasciitis pain have choices at Downtown’s Healthcare. With a variety of traditional and cutting-edge Plantar Fasciitis solutions to choose from, the team can incorporate one or more to provide pain relief. We start with a very thorough evaluation to see if you are a candidate for services at our office. Options include:
  • Physical Medicine
  • Physical therapy
  • Chiropractic care
  • Knee Decompression (state of the art)
  • Cooperative Injectables for Healing and Support including PRP, HCTP, Ozone
  • mHCTT – micro Human Cell Tissue Transplant
  • Joint injection tissue transplant
  • Supplements and nutraceuticals
  • Weight loss program
Make An Appointment Today!