If you suffer from pressing heel pain, most likely you are experiencing plantar fasciitis. This is one of the most seen cause of heel pain there is. So what exactly is plantar fasciitis? Our feet have a ligament called the plantar fascia that connects the heel bone to the toes. It also provides support to the arch of your foot so if this ligament gets stressed in any form or manner, it weakens and can become inflamed and painful.

Plantar fasciitis often takes place in individuals who are grown-up. It can happen to people who are regular runners or those who are overweight, regardless of their age. The pain mostly comes on gradually. It normally only affects one foot, but it can take place in both feet simultaneously. When this takes place and you are in the Baltimore area you are advised to see a Baltimore podiatrist.

Straining of the plantar fascia ligament is the cause. If it is strained over and over again, the ligament can receive small tears. It is the tears that lead to the soreness and inflammation. There are several things that can lead to this strain to begin with.

Plantar Fasciitis may have grown because you have a tendency towards pronation. What this means is that your feet roll in when you walk. If you have either high arches or flat feet this may put stress on the ligament. If you spend a lot of time on your feet, either standing, running, or walking, this too can have an effect.

If you wear ill-fitting shoes or shoes without support, you may experience this condition. Having stretched calf muscles or Achilles tendons can put strain on the ligament. The main symptoms are rigidity and pain in the heel which is probably a whole lot worse when you first get out of bed in the morning or get up after a long period of sitting. The pain may alleviate after taking your first few steps, but it likely will hurt more throughout the day.

In the beginning, you may be able to self-treat your plantar fasciitis without seeing a foot physician. Here are some of the things you can perform to help your foot heel. Cut back on the things that make your foot feel uncomfortable and let it relax. Preventing hard surfaces is always a good idea.

Icing your heel will help with the swelling as well as the pain, as will taking something like ibuprofen or naproxen. Calf stretches and stretching your foot by pulling it back with the aid of a towel should be done many times a day, especially in the morning. Shoes with adequate arch support can help, and adding shoe inserts to both shoes.

If you are in Baltimore and the foot pain stays for six months or more even after applying all these things, it may be time to consult a Baltimore foot doctor. There is a relatively new therapy for plantar fasciitis called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy. ESWT releases sound waves to the heel area, which creates new blood flow to the strained or torn ligament. This course is reliable and requires three or four treatments to give good results .