Plantar Fasciitis

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Treatment Overview

The goals of treatment for plantar fasciitis are to:

Relieve inflammation and pain in the heel.
Allow small tears in the plantar fascia ligament to heal.
Improve strength and flexibility and correct foot problems such as pronation so that you don't stress the plantar fascia ligament.
Allow you to resume your normal activities.

About 8 out of 10 people recover completely within a year. Out of 100 people with plantar fasciitis, about 95 are able to relieve their heel pain with nonsurgical treatments. Only about 5 out of 100 need surgery.¹

Treatment that you start when you first notice symptoms is more successful and takes less time than treatment that is delayed.

Initial treatment

There are many methods you can try to relieve the heel pain of plantar fasciitis. Even though their effectiveness has not been proved in scientific studies, these methods, used alone or in combination, work for most people.²

Rest your feet. Limit or, if possible, stop daily activities that are causing your heel pain. Try to avoid running or walking on hard surfaces, such as concrete.
To reduce inflammation and relieve pain, put ice on your heel. You can also try an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin, for example), naproxen (Aleve, for example), or aspirin.
Wear shoes with good shock absorption and the right arch support for your foot. Athletic shoes or shoes with a well-cushioned sole are usually good choices.
Try heel cups or shoe inserts (orthotics ) to help cushion your heel. You can buy these at many athletic shoe stores and drugstores. Use them in both shoes, even if only one foot hurts.
Put on your shoes as soon as you get out of bed. Going barefoot or wearing slippers may make your pain worse.
Do simple exercises such as calf stretches and towel stretches several times a day, especially when you first get up in the morning. These can help your ligament become more flexible and strengthen the muscles that support your arch. For more information, see:
Plantar fasciitis: Exercises to reduce pain.

Avoid using only heat on your foot, such as from a heating pad or a heat pack. Heat tends to make symptoms worse. If you use contrast baths, which alternate hot and cold water, make sure you end with a soak in cold water.

If your weight is putting extra stress on your feet, your doctor may encourage you to try a weight-loss program.

Ongoing treatment

If nonsurgical methods such as rest, ice, and stretching exercises help relieve your plantar fasciitis symptoms, continue using them. If you have not improved after 6 weeks, your doctor may recommend that you continue those methods but add other nonsurgical treatments, such as:

Custom-made shoe inserts (orthotics ). Custom-made orthotics require a prescription. If your foot has an unusual shape or if you have a certain problem that the device will help, then a custom-made insert may fit better and control pain better than a nonprescription one.
Night splints. A night splint holds the foot with the toes pointed up and with the foot and ankle at a 90-degree angle. This position applies a constant, gentle stretch to the plantar fascia.
A walking cast on the lower leg. Casting is somewhat more expensive and inconvenient than other nonsurgical treatments. And after the cast is removed, you will need some rehabilitation to restore strength and range of motion. But a cast forces you to rest your foot. Some people report that it is the most helpful of nonsurgical treatments.

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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: October 22, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.