On our foot’s bottom, the plantar fascia is a substantial band of connective tissue that runs from our heel to the tips of our toes. Our arch is supported and stabilized by the fibrous band.
Plantar fasciitis, a common reason for heel discomfort, can develop when the fascia turns inflamed where it joins to our heel bone. If detected early, the discomfort can be reduced with the right footwear, stretching, and inserts.
What causes such heel pain?
Heel discomfort is a common complaint among those with plantar fasciitis, and it is typically said to be worse particularly in the morning while sitting or simply relaxing for a bit.
When you first apply load to the plantar fascia, scar tissue may micro tear, which is supposed to be the real cause of the extreme discomfort you experience when you wake up from rest.
When at rest, our plantar fascial ligament may go through a process known as fibrosis (or the creation of certain scar tissue). When someone with a healed plantar fascia gets up from lying down, the scar tissue will be ripped, and the initial few steps are painful.
The plantar fascia tear can frequently tear just where it starts, directly below the heel bone. After 8 – 10 steps, the tearing eventually stops, and the discomfort subsides. The discomfort will typically recur if the person stands and walks for extended amounts of time during the day.
In conclusion, the tiny breaking of the scar tissue that occurs to mend the plantar fascia is what causes heel pain, especially in the morning.
The plantar fascia is simple to feel. Just trace your finger along the foot’s arch. When you draw your toes back, the connective tissue that looks like a rope will protrude. Your plantar fascia is there.
What happens in such a condition?
The plantar fascia may occasionally rip or burst. After an unexpected trauma from falling or jumping from a height, a rupture may develop. Football, basketball, and running athletes who make sudden, quick movements are susceptible to injury.
Patients frequently talk about their heel or arch “popping” and then experiencing bruising and edema. Usually, plantar fasciitis gets worse first thing in the morning, particularly after prolonged periods of sitting.
The pain from a rupture lasts longer than the pain from plantar fasciitis. Gradually, a rupture might develop over time as well. A moderately torn plantar fascia can result from chronic plantar fasciitis, which causes heel pain for longer than six months.
With repeated use, the fascia loses its integrity and gets frayed. Frequently, there will be mild to severe swelling and pain under the heel. Patients may experience a dime-sized bump near their heels.
Patients frequently arrive with bags of night splints and orthotics that have not helped them feel better. Whether it is acute or chronic, a plantar fasciitis tear condition is excruciatingly painful and needs to be properly treated.
A thorough medical history, physical examination, and also the use of certain diagnostic equipment like x-ray, ultrasound, and maybe MRI are used to make the diagnosis of a plantar fascia rupture.