If the sole of the foot hurts like hell

Most feel it in the morning after getting Up – an excruciating, stabbing pain in the sole of the foot, at every step. After a short time he leaves. But the next Morning, the ordeal is repeated, the pain will be from day to day more intense. Who knows, inflamed, perhaps, the tendon plate in the sole of the foot. In the technical language of the illness plantar fasciitis is based on the Latin word for the tendon plate: plantar fascia. Which sounds complicated, but can usually treat.

A plantar fasciitis generally arises because the individual has impacted his foot. Many athletes know the pain – especially if you run in Training or jumping. “But there are others that are about to occupation a lot of, as well as distributing to be able to develop,” explains Ramin Nazemi, medical specialist for orthopedics, chirotherapy and sports medicine, from food. Also, injuries to the sole of the foot can cause a plantar fasciitis. Theoretically, the disease can occur at any age. Most of the concerns, but in the fourth and fifth decade of life – probably due to wear and tear.

The difference from the heel spur

Also, if the disease, heel pain is felt: “plantar fasciitis can be heel spur confused,” says Nazemi. Heel spur is an additional, small bony outgrowth on the heel and must not cause a mandatory pain. “A longer-existing plantar fasciitis, however, can have the formation of a calcaneal spur,” says Nazemi. Pain at the posterior heel, which emit mostly in the direction of the calf, can also be an indication of bursitis of the Achilles tendon.

Heel spur and plantar fasciitis (graphical Illustration): For full view please click on

If you feel regular pain in the sole of the foot, should not run around so long, but the feet of a family doctor or orthopedic surgeon. Otherwise, the risk that you are taking a posture and the spine hurts.

The doctor scans the foot, first with the Hand and x-ray him. Also an ultrasound is out of the question. The doctor tries to find out whether the plantar fascia is thicker than usual – normally a thickness of up to four millimetres in Healthy. Rarely, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary.

Therapies: Stretching, Insoles, Shock Waves, Operation

To treat a plantar fasciitis, there are a variety of ways. “In the first line conservative therapies such as Stretching of the plantar fascia and the muscles into consideration,” says Annett Biedermann, President of the German Association for Podiatry (CPS). Nazemi advises to make the sole of the foot on a hedgehog ball and roll the Ball with the sole of the foot under pressure in the longitudinal direction. “Who has no Igel ball is available, you can also make both balls of your feet on a stair step,” says Nazemi. The Rest of the foot should be floating in the air. The body weight is shifted fully in the direction of the heels, it stretches the targeted the plantar fascia. But caution: do Not bounce with the heels.

“Custom-made orthopedic Shoe inserts often come with a significant pain relief for plantar fasciitis,” explains Biedermann. You can help prevent foot problems and associated Congestion. The Stretch but can’t replace you. “You can help may also have special Fazien techniques and massage on the foot,” says Michael Preibsch by the German Association for physiotherapy (ZVK). In the case of severe pain writes of the doctor is also a pain reliever on.

Another treatment option is the shock wave therapy, the cost of the health insurance companies, however, the rule does not apply. “High-energy sound waves to the painful area, below the foot, and directed,” explained Nazemi. This should cause the tissue to heal in the best case faster. However, a shock wave therapy may be in an acute stage painful.

If the pain does not stop, the patient together with the physician, a surgery to consider. Here, the doctor makes a small incision on the inner edge of the heel. The aim of the SURGERY is to reduce the tissue pressure. Four weeks later, the foot needs to be strengthened with targeted Exercises and stretches. Athletes need to sit out for some time with the workout and should only begin after consultation with the attending physician.

How can you prevent it?

Who wants to proactively do something about plantar fasciitis, one should stretch his feet regularly and strong. “In addition to the above stretching exercises regular barefoot run help in the home environment, as well as gripping exercises for the toes,” says Nazemi. Athletes should increase the Training, in principle, only slowly to Overloads to prevent, advises Preibsch. “It is also important to avoid factors such as Obesity and the wrong shoes,” says Biedermann.