Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis (PLAN-tur fas-e-I-tis) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes (plantar fascia).

Plantar fasciitis commonly causes stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning. As you get up and move more, the pain normally decreases, but it might return after long periods of standing or after rising from sitting.

Plantar fasciitis is more common in runners. In addition, people who are overweight and those who wear shoes with inadequate support have an increased risk of plantar fasciitis.

Dr. Tabari specializes in diagnosing plantar fasciitis and providing the most advanced treatments in his Corona and Flushing, Queens, New York practices. Many plantar fasciitis sufferers start feeling relief shortly after their first treatment with Dr. Tabari.

Why do I have plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis stems from straining the plantar fascia band of ligaments in your foot. It can happen if you:

• Roll your foot inwards too much while walking
• Have high arches or flat feet
• Are overweight or obese
• Wear poorly fitting shoes
• Have tight achilles tendons or calf muscles

In many of these cases, you could end up with small tears in your plantar fascia. Each time you walk or put weight on your foot, the tears become larger, because they don’t heal properly.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The most common symptom of plantar fasciitis is foot pain. Usually, patients with plantar fasciitis experience their worst pain when they take their first steps after getting out of bed in the morning.

Your pain may continue to get worse throughout the day. It's also common to experience severe pain while climbing stairs or standing for an extended period. This pain can feel like:

• Burning
• Stabbing
• Throbbing
• Dull aches

How is plantar fasciitis treated?

Your treatment depends on your symptoms and how long they last — no single treatment works perfectly for everyone. Your treatment could include:

• Icing your foot and heel
• Learning toe and calf stretches
• Wearing more supportive shoes
• Getting fitted for custom orthotics

One of the hardest things that plantar fasciitis sufferers struggle with is staying off their feet. The only way to fully let the ligament heal is to let your foot rest as much as possible. If your pain continues for six months or more even after going through treatment, Dr.Tabari may suggest wearing splints at night to keep your foot stable.

Don’t live another day with plantar fasciitis pain. Schedule an appointment at Rafael Tabari, DPM by booking online or calling the office.