The Link Between Your Weight and Plantar Fasciitis

If you’re one of the two million Americans living with persistent heel pain, it’s time to get checked out for plantar fasciitis. This condition affects people of all ages, especially those who are overweight or obese.

At New Tampa Interventional Pain and Sports Medicine, pain specialist Jose De La Torre, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating plantar fasciitis. Dr. De La Torre offers a variety of solutions to help you manage your heel pain and prevent a worsening of your condition.

He can also provide you with resources to achieve a healthy body weight and take excess pressure off your feet.

Understanding plantar fasciitis

At the bottom of your foot is the plantar fascia, a strong band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. These tissues are responsible for supporting the arch of your foot and absorbing the shock of your movements.

Too much pressure on the plantar fascia can stretch the tissues too far and even cause them to tear. This leads to plantar fasciitis and heel pain that can worsen over time and ultimately limit what you can do  more difficult.

Though there are exercises you can do off your feet to support healthy weight loss, Dr. De La Torre can also help you manage your pain. He can also run diagnostic tests to determine what else might be contriphysically.

Pressure on the plantar fascia can come from overuse of your foot and ankle, especially if you play sports. However, many people develop heel pain because of their weight. In fact, the more overweight a person is, the more pain they tend to have.

Losing weight with heel pain

Unfortunately, a big part of weight loss involves physical activity. When you have persistent heel pain, it can make exercisebuting to your heel pain, such as flatfeet or high arches. Testing may include X-rays or ultrasounds of your feet to determine what treatment options are right for you.

We offer customized treatment plans for plantar fasciitis that may include night splints, orthotics, and physical therapy. Anti-inflammatory medications or cortisone injections can also effectively relieve your heel pain enough to make physical activity easier.

Tips for preventing plantar fasciitis pain

In addition to weight loss, you can do a few things to reduce your risk for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis.

1. Wear supportive shoes

Shoes that support your heels and arches can take some of the pressure off your plantar fascia during physical activity. Invest in good quality shoes with a thick sole, and make sure they’re the right size for your feet.

Avoid high heels, flip flops, and other shoe styles that can strain your arches or cause unnecessary injuries to your feet and ankles.

2. Take time to rest

Overuse of your feet can stretch the plantar fascia and lead to persistent heel pain. Pay attention to any discomfort or pain you have and stop what you’re doing.

Although it’s important to stay physically active, it’s just as important that you rest between activities to prevent tissue tears and other damage.

3. Warm up before physical activity

If you participate in sports, dance, or other activities that are hard on your feet, learn how to properly warm up beforehand.

Stretching out your muscles can prevent a number of injuries that lead to persistent pain. We can offer recommendations for how to stretch the muscles and tendons in your legs and feet to lower your risk for plantar fasciitis and other painful conditions.

4. Avoid hard surfaces

When you’re physically active, try to avoid hard surfaces as much as possible. Run on a soft track instead of the street to minimize stress on your feet.

Also make sure to run on surfaces that are even. If you’re moving over tree roots and other obstructions, you’re more likely to twist your ankle or fall.

5. Exercise off your feet

If your heel pain limits what you can do physically, try engaging in other kinds of exercise that don’t involve your feet when trying to lose weight.

Swimming and exercises you can do sitting down will still keep your blood flowing without increasing your heel pain.

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for heel pain, call New Tampa Interventional Pain and Sports Medicine office today, or book an appointment online.