How serious is plantar fasciitis?
Anything that can feel like walking on broken glass is worthy of being taken seriously. For someone like two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, Peyton Manning, it felt like it could well be the end of a career for one of the greatest NFL players of all time. Everyone is familiar with Manning being out the entire 2011 season following neck surgery. His phenomenal struggle to recover and, not just return to the sport, but go on to win another Super Bowl title is the thing of legend. How unbelievable that the event that he might not have made it back from would be a small tear in his heel?
Tears or injuries to the plantar fascia, the thick band of connective tissue stretching between the toes and the heel, leads to plantar fasciitis and is often caused by some sort of overload, like quick acceleration or sudden shift in direction. Other contributing factors can be ill-fitting or inappropriate footwear, poor foot structure or dramatically increasing distance or time while running or exercising. As would be expected, this type of injury is fairly common in football and other similar sports, causing extreme pain and seriously affecting performance.
Plantar fasciitis can be quite debilitating for professional athletes and a source of significant discomfort for the rest of us. Of all heel pain, plantar fasciitis accounts for 80%. It can continue to get worse without treatment and is easy to reinjure.
How to Deal with Plantar Fasciitis
As always, the best course of action is to prevent this or any injury from happening in the first place. Be consistent with daily foot stretches, especially first thing in the morning. If you are a runner, run on soft surfaces rather than concrete. Increase distance and time gradually, preferably, less than 10 percent per week and always, always wear the proper shoes for your feet and activity.
For those who do suffer from plantar fasciitis, there are options you can try at home, like rolling a golf ball or frozen bottle of water under your foot. If the pain continues, it’s time to see your podiatrist. Options that may be presented to you include:
- Orthotics
- Foot taping
- Cortisone injections
- Splints to be worn while sleeping
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Physical therapy
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
- Surgery
The best treatment is always the one that is right for you and your lifestyle and should be arrived at in consultation with a trusted healthcare professional. The outcome will be improved by seeking professional advice as soon as possible.
What Happened to Peyton?
It’s possible that there might be someone reading this that does not know that the superstar quarterback did recover from what was, indeed, a serious plantar fasciitis injury. He initially tried to play through the pain, but was soon unable to continue. At his age and because of the unpredictability of healing time for an injury that so greatly impacted his ability to plant his feet and throw, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding his return. The good news is that, after sitting out seven starts and six full games, he came back strong and managed to prove it by winning his second Super Bowl title the following month!
Peyton Manning’s successful recovery was possible because he received excellent medical care. At Country Foot Care, our doctors combine state-of-the-art technology with years of experience to diagnose and treat your condition. The care you receive will be based on your lifestyle and unique needs. To schedule an appointment at any of our three Country Foot Care locations, Mineola, Patchogue or Williston Park, just call (516) 741-3338, or, if you prefer, use our online form by clicking here.
