Your feet are the basis for every step you take--they get us where we want to go and support every shape and body frame. When our feet aren't working as they should, it falls to other areas of the body to pick up the slack in order to compensate, which can lead to complications that affect your overall health and well-being. Foot pain, knee pain, lower back pain and even neck pain can be directly related to the way your foot hits the ground when you walk.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Planter fasciitis is the most common form of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the flat band of tissue (ligament) that link your hell bone to your toes and supports the arch of your foot. If you cause stress or strain to your plantar fascia, it gets weak, swollen and inflamed. When this occurs, your heel or bottom of your foot hurts when you try to stand or walk. Plantar fasciitis is common in middle-aged people or in people who are on their feet frequently (athletes, soldiers, assembly line workers, etc.).

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the ligament that supports the arch of your foot. When you strain that arch over and over again, it can cause tiny tears in the ligament, which can lead to pain and inflammation. Below are some common causes that lead to pain and swelling if:

• Your feet roll inward too much when you walk
• You have high arches or flat feet.
• You walk, stand, or run for long periods of time, especially on hard surfaces.
• You are overweight.
• You wear shoes that don't fit well or are worn out.
• You have tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles.
• What are the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?

A lot of patients with plantar fasciitis experience pain when they take their first steps after they get out of bed or sit for a long period of time. You may have less stiffness and pain after you take a few steps. But your foot may hurt more as the day goes on. It may hurt the most when you climb stairs or after you stand for a long time.

Custom Orthotics for Relief

Foot-related complications are often treated very successfully with custom made orthotic inserts that you put right in your shoe like an insole.

Orthotics are prescribed to:

• Reduce pain
• Provide support
• Prevent or slow down the development of a foot deformity
• Provide better positioning of the foot, knee and hips
• Improve the overall bio mechanical function of the body
• Shock absorption

Custom foot orthotics are specifically balanced medical devices worn in your shoes to help the feet and lower extremities to work correctly and help reduce pain and deformity caused by improper function.

When appropriately fitted, orthotics help lower pain, not only in the foot, but in other areas of the body such as the knee, hip and lower back. By lowering the need for muscles to compensate for imbalances, orthotics can reduce fatigue and promote efficient muscle function to enhance performance.

Custom orthotic devices have the greatest chance of reducing the tension in your plantar fascia, reducing your pain, and keeping you away from surgery. If you are inerested in finding out more about orthotics contact us today.