What do you know about Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Test your knowledge on this foot problem by checking your answers in the comments section below.

1. The plantar fascia is:

A) A tendon

B) A ligament

C) A muscle

2. What is not a cause of plantar fasciitis?

A) Rolling the feet inward while walking

B) High arches or flat feet

C) Bunions

D) Running, walking or standing for long periods

3. True or false: The plantar fascia connects the heel bone to the toes.

4. Pain may come about:

A) Taking the first steps after getting out of bed in the morning

B) When climbing stairs

C) While sleeping

D) Both A and B

5. True or false: Runners can decrease their chance of developing plantar fasciitis if they abruptly change how hard or long they run.

6. True or false: An x-ray can show if you have plantar fasciitis.

7. Which are treatments that help plantar fasciitis?

A) Stretches

B) Steroid shots

C) Nighttime splints

D) All of the above

Image by Heels and Feet. Heels and Arches Closeup. (2006). Flickr.

Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions of the muscle that come without warning. They can come about while you are in the middle of an activity like running or even while you are sleeping. They cause a sharp pain in the foot which can last several minutes.The area can also feel hard and tight.

There are many causes for muscle cramps including:

Overworked/fatigued muscles

Poor circulation

Dehydration

An imbalance in potassium, magnesium, calcium or vitamin D

Certain thyroid disorders

Pregnancy

Certain medications

When a muscle spasm starts, it may help to massage the area, stretch the muscle, and put ice or heat on the area. Strengthening exercise can help with spasms due to fatigued muscles. Eating foods high in vitamins, magnesium and calcium can help to prevent cramps due to deficiencies. If muscle spasms are frequent or severe, it is best to talk to your doctor about what could be causing them and the best way to prevent them.

Image by Jessica Jasper. Feet. (2009). Flickr.

Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections can develop in the foot as a result of minor cuts or abrasions. Typically cleaning the area and keeping it bandaged is enough to avoid infection until the wound heals. Sometimes, however, your body cannot fight off infections, and the following can happen:

• Your foot can expel discharge or pus.
• You can experience tingling or pain in the heel without applying any pressure to the foot.
• The affected area can become red and warm to the touch.
• You can develop a fever.
• The area can swell and be tender and painful.
• The pain may not be alleviated by ice or over-the-counter painkillers.
• The infection can spread to other areas of the foot, such as under the nail.

If you experience any the above symptoms, make an appointment right away to figure out the best way to treat the infection. People with diabetes have a harder time fighting off infections. If you have diabetes and have an abrasion on your foot, it is even more important to keep the area clean and monitor it for changes. 

Image by Jorge Corcuera. Tiritas de Sam #bandaid. (2012). Flickr.

Broken Bones

Breaking a bone in the foot or ankle can cause pain, swelling, and bruising. Since these are also symptoms of sprains, it is important to see a physician to get an appropriate plan of treatment.

Different parts of the foot and ankle require different treatment. Some broken bones require you to stay off of the injury by using crutches, some require splints, casts or stabilizing boots, and extreme cases may require surgery.

It is important to stabilize your injury immediately so as to not cause further damage.

1. Fashion a splint to keep the injury from moving around.
2. If using a stabilizing wrap, do not wrap the foot so tightly that it increases pain or affects circulation.
3. Elevate the injury to reduce swelling.
4. Ice the area to reduce swelling and pain.

It may be necessary to visit an emergency room if it is after normal office hours and it is an urgent situation. If bones have broken through the skin, if the foot is numb, if your foot is pointing in the wrong direction, or you have severe pain, seek immediate medical attention. 

Image by Jem Hologram. IMG_4105. (2011). Flickr.