Take plantar fasciitis for example. While it can be triggered by one intense moment of stress directed onto the plantar fascia, oftentimes it’s a much less innocuous action that leads to plantar fascia tearing or inflammation. In today’s blog, we spotlight some of these surprising causes of plantar fasciitis.

Hidden Causes Of Plantar Fasciitis

Dr. Silverman went into greater detail about the causes of plantar fasciitis in this recent piece by The Guardian where he was quoted, but let’s use today’s blog to spotlight some of the surprising factors that can contribute to plantar fasciitis onset:

Exercise After Some Time Off – Exercise in and of itself isn’t a major risk for plantar fasciitis, but exercising too much after an extended period of inactivity can do it. We’ve talked with countless patients who have New Year’s Resolutions or are just starting to train for a marathon but are quickly felled by plantar fasciitis pain. Taking on too much activity, too soon, especially after an extended period of inactivity, can greatly increase your risk for plantar fasciitis. Take things slow and gradually build up your distance or speed to keep your plantar fasciitis risk at bay.

Your Weight – Your plantar fascia bears the weight of your body with every step you take, so it stands to reason that the heavier you are, the more stress the tissues are under. Whether you’re running, walking or moving, this extra weight it going to put additional strain on your plantar fascia, and over time that can increase your risk of developing plantar fasciitis.

Arch Abnormalities – Your risk of developing plantar fasciitis is also tied to the genetic lottery. Individuals with flat feet or high arches will displace stress differently across their foot, and oftentimes that involves more stress being placed on the plantar fascia. Orthotic inserts and physical therapy can help to lower this risk, as can working to maintain an ideal weight. Be proactive with the hand life deals you.

Repetitive Stress – Finally, as we mentioned above, trauma can play a roll in plantar fasciitis onset, but it’s usually chronic, repetitive trauma, not acute trauma. If you’re someone who always runs for a workout or you’re constantly on your feet at your job, it’s possible that you’re overloading the plantar fascia with repetitive strain, weakening the tissue and putting you at a heightened risk for plantar fasciitis.

Whatever your underlying cause, Dr. Silverman wants to help identify the issue and develop a treatment plan that sees you put this plantar fascia pain to bed once and for all. For more information, or for help with a different foot or ankle issue, connect with Dr. Silverman today.

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Inconsistent Foot Pain

If your foot pain seems to come and go, or it is worse at certain parts throughout the day, there’s a chance you may be dealing with one of these three foot conditions.

1. Plantar Fasciitis – Plantar fasciitis is a condition we’ve talked about at length on this blog, and it develops when the thick band of tissue on the underside of your foot becomes inflamed. This band of tissue connects your heal to your toes, and it can become inflamed or develop microtears if it is chronically stressed or overburdened. This connective tissues tends to tighten a bit when you’re resting, and then it can stretch and become uncomfortable when the area first experiences stress again, which is why many people with plantar fasciitis say the condition is worse first thing in the morning or after an extended seated period. Discomfort can sometimes fade a little as you walk and move around a little, which is why it can seem like pain is coming and going.

2. Achilles Tendonitis – Achilles tendonitis occurs when the Achilles tendon, the largest tendon in your body, becomes inflamed or irritated. This inflammation tends to develop following periods of prolonged activity or stress, leading to discomfort that ebbs and flows with activity level. Achilles tendonitis can feel like its resolved, but if you don’t do anything to strengthen the tendon (like with controlled exercise or physical therapy), symptoms can return if you push yourself too hard. Rest your Achilles but also work to strengthen the area and gradually increase your activity level as you return to athletics and other physical activities.

3. Morton’s Neuroma – A final problem that we want to spotlight that can come and go in waves is Morton’s Neuroma. It is a condition that affects the ball of the foot, specifically the zone between your third and fourth toes. Nerves run between the balls of your feet, and if a nerve becomes irritated or compressed, pain or uncomfortable sensations like numbness or tingling can develop. This discomfort tends to be most noticeable when you’re walking or stressing the foot, giving the impression that pain is coming and going based on your activity level. Working to decompress the nerve, either with physical therapy, weight loss or surgery can all be effective treatments for Morton’s Neuroma.

If you’re dealing with foot pain that comes and goes, don’t let the issue linger any longer. Instead, make it a point to proactively treat the condition and put it to bed for good. The best way to do that is by connecting with a foot specialist in your area. For more information, reach out to Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.

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Plantar fasciitis can also be somewhat difficult to treat, because continued walking on your feet can prolong inflammation and make it harder for the tissue to heal. At the same time, we’ve already talked about the dangers of prolonged inactivity. So what’s the best course of action for treating plantar fasciitis in active individuals? We explore how active individuals can treat their plantar fasciitis in today’s blog.

Overcoming Plantar Fasciitis As An Active Individual

If you want to get back to doing all the activities you love following a plantar fasciitis diagnosis, you’ll want to keep these tips in mind. Here’s what we typically recommend for athletes and other active individuals battling plantar fasciitis, but consult your specialist for personalized advice:

1. Short-Term Rest/Stress Protection – We understand that you don’t want to slow down, but you’re going to need to back off the activity for a short while. Give your body a break from high impact exercise or other activities that channel a lot of stress onto your feet. Continued stress can cause these microtears to progress, so you need to provide an environment where healing can run its course. Try to limit stress and strain on your feet for a week or two before considering ramping up your activity.

2. Pursue No Impact Exercise – As you begin to take on more activity, consider pursuing no impact or very low impact exercises. Swimming or cycling are two great options that don’t put a lot of strain on your plantar fascia. You can still be active and protective of your plantar fascia as it’s working to recover.

3. Physical Therapy – For best results, you’ll want to mix in some physical therapy exercises to strengthen the plantar fascia and the areas that support the underside of your foot arch. Targeted strength training exercises that focus on your calves and ankles can help to take some stress off the plantar fascia. Connect with a physical therapist or ask your orthopaedic specialist for some physical therapy exercises that could help you overcome your plantar fasciitis.

4. Consider Orthotics – Orthotic inserts can reshape how stress is distributed along the underside of your foot, which can be very protective of your plantar fascia. There are generic inserts designed to be helpful for patients with plantar fasciitis, but everyone’s foot shape is different, so for better results, consider having a custom orthotic inset designed for your individual foot shape. An orthotic insert is a passive way of providing more support to your plantar fascia.

5. Weight Loss – Finally, shedding a little weight can reduce the risk that your plantar fasciitis will return. The more you weigh. the more stress your plantar fascia has to bear with every step you take. You’re already active, which is a great start, but that’s just one pillar of weight loss. A healthy diet, limiting alcohol consumption and striving for at least eight hours of restful sleep at night can make it easier for you to hit your weight loss goals.

Let us help you overcome your plantar fasciitis or related foot issue. For more information, reach out to Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.

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Woods took to Twitter to explain why he was withdrawing from the event on Saturday and to express gratitude for the fans who came out to cheer him on at Augusta National.

I am disappointed to have to WD this morning due to reaggravating my plantar fasciitis. Thank you to the fans and to @TheMasters who have shown me so much love and support. Good luck to the players today!

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) April 9, 2023

Tiger’s Injury And His Future

Tiger looked physically strong when he teed off on Thursday, but the course and the weather conditions eventually took their toll on Tiger, and he was visibly hobbled by early Saturday. Apparently the discomfort in his foot was so unbearable that he decided that his best option was to withdraw, even though he had already noted that he doesn’t know how many Masters tournaments he has left in him.

This isn’t the first time that Woods has been bothered by the plantar fascia issue, and we even wrote about the original injury when it first made headlines. In that blog in December, we mentioned that Woods was hopeful to avoid surgery for the plantar fasciitis condition that had been bothering him. He stated that he had been sleeping with a foot brace and that his condition had been steadily improving. He was able to avoid surgery, but that may not be the case this time around.

While we’ll know more about his current injury in the coming days, it certainly seems more likely that Woods will pursue surgery this time around. He clearly has the mindset that he wants to avoid surgery if at all possible, but the aggravation may prompt him to address the matter surgically. Obviously he would like to compete in the major tournaments during the rest of the year, but if he’s going to attempt to be fully healthy for one tournament a year, it would be for The Masters, so with that in the rearview mirror, Woods may opt to put his health first.

It may be possible for him to make another strong recovery with conservative techniques and bracing at night, but it’s going to take some time. Regardless of whether or not he pursues surgery, odds are Tiger will take some time away from the sport to work on his health. Until we have more information, we can’t really speculate on when we may see him next, but we don’t expect him to come back until he has restored confidence in his foot.

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When plantar fasciitis pain develops, oftentimes our first instinct is to get off our feet and avoid straining the area. However, inactivity can actually serve to make the problem worse. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at why inactivity can make plantar fasciitis worse, and how to best treat the problem.

Plantar Fasciitis And Inactivity

If you’re dealing with a sharp pain on the underside of your foot, especially if it’s worse in the morning after a night of inactivity, you may think that protecting the area by limiting how much stress you put on it is the best way to care for your feet. And while you don’t want to continue putting increased stress on the area, inactivity is far from the best way to protect your foot.

Inactivity can make plantar fasciitis worse for a number of reasons. For starters, inactivity can lead to atrophy in the muscles and tissues in your foot that help to handle stress and take pressure off the plantar fascia. If the supportive structures can no longer bear as much weight, your plantar fascia may be under more strain when you are moving. But perhaps more importantly, we’re prone to weight gain if we live a sedentary life. If you gain weight, you’ll be asking your feet to help handle an increased amount of stress, and that can lead to more fascia tearing and inflammation.

Instead of becoming inactive, you’ll want to fight your plantar fasciitis with activity. You’ll want to avoid high-impact activities like running or actions that involve jumping or landing hard on your feet, but low- or no-impact exercises like walking, swimming or moving on an elliptical can help to strengthen key structures in your feet and keep weight off. Just be sure that you slowly increase your activity levels so that your muscles aren’t overburdened. Get in the habit of listening to your body and taking it slow when it comes to increasing the amount of activity you pursue.

Instead of inactivity, a better way to protect your feet and your plantar fascia is to ensure that they are in the right shoe for the activity. You want a shoe that is comfortable and contours to the shape of your foot arch. If your arch isn’t adequately supported, it could be handling too much strain. Some foot specialists even advise that you wear these supportive shoes in the home, as going barefoot for extended period leaves us without additional foot support. Your foot specialist can provide you with a personalized recommendation based on your foot shape and how you’re being impacted by plantar fasciitis.

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Ways You’re Making Your Plantar Fasciitis Worse

If you’re not proactive and smart about how you approach treatment, you can end up making your plantar faciitis worse, which can lead to bigger tears or even a full rupture of the fascia. Here are five ways that you may unknowingly be making your plantar fasciitis worse.

1. Wear The Wrong Shoes – Footwear that doesn’t comfort and support the arch of your foot will put additional stress on your plantar fascia. Shoes like sandals or a fashionable pair of flats may look cute, but they won’t offer much support to your arch. Protect your plantar fascia from additional tearing and inflammation by wearing footwear that has ample arch support.

2. Excessive Sugar Intake – Sugar can be hard on your body and your plantar fascia for a couple of reasons. Excess sugar can lead to weight gain, and that will put more stress on your feet as they work to support this extra pressure. Consuming sugar also leads to the production of certain molecules inside your body that are pro-inflammatory, which can lead to lingering inflammation in your plantar fascia. Rework your diet, and it may become easier to manage your plantar fasciitis.

3. Jumping Out Of Bed – Oftentimes plantar fasciitis is most painful with the first few steps in the morning. That’s because the plantar fascia stretches as it is stressed when you get out of bed, and after an extended period of sleep, this jolt of stress can lead to mictotearing of the fascia. When you wake up, sit on the edge of your bed and do a couple minutes of foot stretches to gently prepare your fascia for strain so that the tissue can stretch before it handles the weight of your body.

4. Pushing Through Discomfort – A number of athletes try to push through the discomfort so that they can continue to play. They think that as long as they can handle the discomfort, then they should be able to play. If you ignore the warning signs and continue to put a lot of stress on the area with activity, you can completely rupture the fascia, which can lead to the need for surgery and months of rehabilitation. Taking a little time off to heal is much preferred to playing through the pain, because in the best case symptoms will linger, and worst case the problem will get much worse.

5. Ignoring Other Problems – Finally, it’s important to remember that the whole body is connected, and ignoring a problem in one area can cause problems in another. Knee pain that is affecting your gait could worsen plantar fasciitis, and vice versa, so don’t ignore a pain in any part of your body. Not only could it lead to worse discomfort in that area, but it could also lead to new issues in different parts of your body.

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Causes Of Arch Pain When Walking

For many individuals, the onset of arch pain may be sudden, but it doesn’t always occur as a result of an acute moment of injury. In other words, while it’s possible to injure your arch in a specific moment of overloaded stress, oftentimes this discomfort is the result of micro-trauma and stress over the years that eventually leads to symptoms. That’s why it’s often so puzzling as to why the condition develops, because you can’t easily point to a specific moment of injury.

Some factors that may put you at risk for arch pain include:

• Being overweight, or recent weight gain
• The natural aging process
• Chronic foot stress/overuse
• Certain neurological conditions
• Structural issues (high arches, flat feet, etc.)

As for the actual cause of arch pain, the most common underlying reason for mild to severe arch pain when walking is due to the onset of plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is a condition that involves inflammation or tearing of the thick band of tissue that runs from your heel to your forefoot. This band of tissue is known as the plantar fascia helps to support your foot arch and handle stress with every step your take.

Inflammation or injury to the plantar fascia can lead to a cycle that is tough to break free from. Rest and physical therapy are the best ways to treat plantar fasciitis, but because the pain tends to start off as mild or moderate, many people continue to try to go about their day as if nothing is wrong. This continued stress only prolongs the condition or leads to additional inflammation and tearing, compounding the problem.

Treating Plantar Fasciitis

As we mentioned above, you need to treat the plantar fasciitis head on if you want to see the best results, and the problem will likely get worse if you try to push through the discomfort. So if you’re starting to deal with arch pain, especially if the discomfort is worse in the morning or after sitting for an extended period, set up an appointment with Dr. Silverman or an orthopedic specialist in your area.

They’ll begin by asking about your symptoms, reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam to look for physical signs of plantar fasciitis. Imaging tests are not typically necessary, but they may be ordered to rule out other possibilities like a stress fracture.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will walk your through an individualized treatment plan. In most cases, plantar fasciitis responds well to conservative care, so treatment oftentimes involves a combination of:

• Rest
• Bracing
• Custom orthotics
• Physical therapy
• Stretching exercises

Rest and bracing are helpful in the short-term, but to drive long-term results, you need to pursue more active treatments like physical therapy and stretching. Your specialist can walk you through some specific exercises and even set you up with a physical therapist to ensure you progress through your rehab as expected.

So if you’re dealing with arch pain, know that it could get worse if you ignore it, and that will make every step a little more painful. Instead, sync up with Dr. Silverman and let him see if plantar fasciitis or another foot issue is to blame. Once a diagnosis is made, he’ll ensure you get set up with a personalized treatment plan to have you walking without pain in no time.

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Plantar Fasciitis Pain

If you are dealing with pain under the arch of your foot, there’s a good chance that there’s an issue with your plantar fascia. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s torn. In fact, if the pain is only mild or moderate, odds are it’s inflamed not torn. Inflammation caused by overuse can make movement and exerting pressure more uncomfortable, but oftentimes it resolves with a combination of rest, physical activity limitation, custom orthotics and targeted physical therapy.

You can get through the day with an inflamed plantar fascia, but it’s best to treat the issue head on. If you don’t, not only do symptoms tend to linger, but you will be at an increased risk of suffering a ruptured plantar fascia. But how will you know if you tore your plantar fascia?

While you may not know exactly what’s wrong at the outset, it will be clear from the moment that the tissue tears that a problem exists. When the band of tissue ruptures, you’ll feel a sharp pain in your arch and heel area. The area will also likely bruise and well, and it’s possible that you may even hear an audible pop in the region at the moment of rupture. Some people say it feels like they are being stabbed in the arch of their foot, and putting pressure on the area becomes very painful. Obviously this also makes walking quite difficult.

Treating A Torn Plantar Fascia

If you believe you’ve torn your plantar fascia, or you’re dealing with tissue inflammation, you should sync up with a foot specialist sooner rather than later. They’ll conduct a physical exam, review your medical history, and they may take a closer look at your foot through the use of imaging tests. Imaging tests may not be necessary to diagnose the rupture, but it can be revealed through an MRI test.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a torn plantar fascia, the first goal will be to immobilize the area with crutches or another assistive device. Eventually, you’ll be transitioned to a walking boot, at which time physical therapy exercises will be ordered. Physical therapy will typically last anywhere from 8-12 weeks in order to help the tissue heal and become strong enough to handle normal activity. In most instances, surgery is not required because conservative techniques tend to produce great results.

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There are also some things you’ll want to avoid doing while attempting to treat your plantar fasciitis because they can serve to make the condition worse. In today’s blog, we take a look at five things that can make your plantar fasciitis worse.

What Makes Plantar Fasciitis Worse?

Here’s a look at five things that can make your plantar fasciitis worse and hinder your treatment success.

1. Gaining Weight – Excess weight can lead to more stress being channeled through your feet, which in turn will make the symptoms caused by plantar fasciitis worse. If you’re already overweight, failing to work towards a healthy weight can also make plantar fasciitis symptoms worse. Strive to get down to a healthy weight if you want to help treat your plantar fasciitis.

2. Excessive Standing – If you work in a job that requires you stand all day, it could make your plantar fasciitis condition worse. Standing for excessive periods doesn’t give the plantar fascia time to rest, and it can lead to extended periods of inflammation. Try to get off your feet when possible if you stand a lot for work and are dealing with plantar fasciitis.

3. Not Stretching When You Wake – Rest is a crucial time when this thick band of tissue heals and isn’t required to handle stress. However, if you roll out of bed and stand up quickly, this band of tissue can tear as it suddenly is forced to bear weight. That’s why plantar fasciitis is often worse in the morning. Before you take your first steps, point, twist, flex and bend your foot and ankle so that the area can get used to movement and activity before it has to bear your body weight.

4. Wearing Unsupportive Shoes – Plantar fasciitis is more common in patients with high arches, and if you don’t wear shoes that accommodate for your specific foot shape, it can make symptoms of plantar fasciitis much worse. You need to make sure that your foot arch is supported and that your shoes are preventing problems, not contributing to them. If you have questions about your shoes, reach out to a foot specialist like Dr. Silverman.

5. Eating Too Much Sugar – Elevated blood sugar levels in your body can trigger inflammation, which in turn will make your plantar fasciitis worse. Cutting back on refined sugars can not only help to calm inflammation in your body, but it can also help with your weight, another factor on this list.

So while active treatment options are important for fixing your plantar fasciitis, so too is avoiding things that could inadvertently make your condition worse. If you need help getting a handle on your plantar fasciitis condition, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.

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One such condition that could lead to worse outcomes if left untreated is plantar fasciitis. In today’s blog, we explain some of the potential dangers of leaving your plantar fasciitis untreated.

Three Potential Problems Of Untreated Plantar Fasciitis

Here’s a look at three other foot problems that could develop if you don’t actively manage your plantar fasciitis.

Heel Spurs – One of the most common issues associated with untreated plantar fasciitis is the development of heel spurs. Your body is doing what it always tries to do and protect itself, and it does that by generating calcium deposits to protect the arch of your foot from tissue damage. Over time, these calcium deposits can turn into sharp or rough bone deposits that irritate nearby structures, leading to pain with every step. Not only will early intervention help treat the underlying plantar fasciitis, but it will also help prevent against heel spur formation.

Plantar Fibromatosis – This condition results in the non-cancerous thickening of your plantar fascia. Although the condition isn’t all that common, it can lie dormant or asymptomatic for years, so many individuals may not know they are dealing with the formation of non-cancerous nodules along their fascia. Over time, walking on the thickened fascia can go from mildly uncomfortable to severely painful. Treating the plantar fasciitis at the outset can help to prevent this continued thickening of your fascia.

Plantar Rupture – A final problem that can develop if you don’t manage your plantar fasciitis is a full blown plantar rupture. Your plantar fascia is in a damaged state if you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, but if you keep trying to push through the pain and play sports or stay active, the fascia can rupture. Odds are you’ll know if it ruptures, because there’s usually a popping sensation followed by a period of intense foot pain and swelling. Weight bearing may also be difficult. If you thought rehabbing from plantar fasciitis was annoying, recovering from a ruptured fascia will take even more time and effort.

If you have plantar fasciitis or are experiencing arch pain, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office to see what he can do for you.

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