Plantar Fasciitis is incredibly painful and makes walking nearly impossible for many people. More commonly known as heel spurs because if feels like a sharp shard of bone is poking into the heel when standing up or walking it is really caused by an injury to the tendons and muscles that support the arch of the foot. That is why wearing the right shoe is so important if you are prone to heel spurs.
It is easier to prevent plantar fasciitis than it is to cure it. Shoes with extra arch support help, as well as shoes that are balanced and keep the foot from rolling inward which is a leading cause of torn plantar fasciitis. For runners or those who need to walk a great deal during their daily work shoes that are heavily cushioned to absorb the shock and pounding that can stress the foot and cause tears to the tendon causing heel spurs are an important wardrobe element.
All it takes is the tiniest tear in the plantar fasciitis tendon to create extreme pain that takes a long time to heal. It can take six months to a year of continued therapy including not using the injured foot to relieve heel spur pain. If the problem that caused the pain is not dealt with, however, recurrence of the injury is likely. In fact, during treatment of the injured foot the opposite foot often develops the same problem if solid support is not provided.
