Your plantar fascia is comprised of a thick band of tissue at the bottom of your foot that extends from your heel to your toes. Its presence helps to provide stability and support to your foot arch, but like any tissue in your body, it can become prone to wear and tear, and under extreme stress, it can rupture. But how can you know if the discomfort you’re feeling is due to a torn plantar fascia? We take a closer look at what it feels like to tear your plantar fascia, as well as how to treat it, in today’s blog.
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.