Plantar Fasciitis Specialist
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The Hirsh Center
Arthritis and Sports Medicine Center located in Delray Beach, FL
If you have a high arch or a flat foot, or you if participate in sports that repeatedly put pressure on your heels, you may be inclined to developing a condition called plantar fasciitis. The Hirsh Center in Delray Beach, Florida, is a leading institute in the field of rheumatology and specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions. Through the latest technology and advanced therapies, including regenerative medicine, the highly skilled medical team at The Hirsh Center help men and women get relief from the painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Schedule a consultation online or call the office for an appointment.
Plantar Fasciitis Q & A
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which the ligament in your foot that supports your arch becomes damaged or stressed as a result of wear-and-tear or a sports injury. Since your body’s natural response to injury is inflammation, plantar fasciitis can cause pain and stiffness in your feet.
Most men and women with plantar fasciitis experience a stabbing pain in their heel when first getting out of bed in the morning, or after not putting pressure on their feet for a long period of time. Additionally, pain often gets worse after exercising.
What are the risk factors for developing plantar fasciitis?
Sometimes, plantar fasciitis occurs without an obvious cause, but factors that may increase your risk of developing the condition include:
- Exercises that stress your heel, like running
- Obesity
- Age (40-60)
- The structure of your foot (e.g., high arches or flat feet)
- Occupations that require you to stand on a hard surface several hours each day
- Tight calf muscles
- An underlying degenerative condition, like arthritis
If you have chronic heel or foot pain, it’s a good idea to seek medical care, as it could be the sign of an underlying issue. Additionally, men and women with plantar fasciitis frequently have bone spurs in their heels, which can cause even more pain and discomfort.
How is plantar fasciitis treated?
If there’s no underlying condition, you may be able to improve plantar fasciitis symptoms by avoiding the activities or sports that aggravate your feet. Ice can help relieve pain, too. The Hirsh Center team may prescribe calf stretches and other exercises that help release the muscles in your feet. Other treatment methods include:
- Foot orthotics and supportive shoes
- Physical therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Night splints to stretch your calf while you sleep
- Ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections or steroid injections
PRP injections are a type of regenerative medicine that use your own platelet-rich plasma from your blood to promote healing. The PRP stimulates your body’s own stem cells to repair the ligament in your foot so you get relief from painful symptoms.
The medical team at the Hirsh Center creates a comprehensive treatment plan based on your individual symptoms and condition. Based on their many years of experience successfully treating men and women with musculoskeletal problems, the team strives to find the most effective combination of therapies so you can get long-term pain relief from plantar fasciitis.
To learn more, call the office or schedule a consultation using the online booking tool.
