We Provide Effective Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis and Other Common Causes of Heel Pain in North Seattle

If you've recently developed heel pain, you're probably wondering what's causing it—and what you can do about it. You're not alone; heel pain is one of the most frequent problems we treat at Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City in North Seattle. It's also one of the top reasons our active patients give for why they've stopped doing the things they love.

Fortunately, you don't have to let stubborn heel pain disrupt your lifestyle. Our expert podiatrist, Dr. Rion Berg, has 40 years of experience successfully helping patients of all ages resolve their heel pain using a holistic approach and a wide range of treatment options. Here's what you need to know.

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the connective tissue on the bottom of your foot, is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The tissue, called the plantar fascia, starts at your heel, travels across your arches, and inserts into the base of your toes. If you have pain in your feet when they first hit the floor in the morning, plantar fasciitis is a likely cause. This condition is also characterized by pain that decreases as the foot warms up, but returns after standing or sitting for long periods of time.

Why Does Your Heel Hurt?

Factors that increase your risk for developing plantar fasciitis include:

Age, as this condition is most common in patients ages 40-60
Activities, like running, that subject the feet to high levels of impact
Poor foot mechanics, like flat feet and other factors that affect how weight is distributed
Equinus, a condition that limits the upward bending motion of the ankle joint, often due to tightness of the Achilles tendon or calf muscles
Excess weight and obesity, which puts extra stress on the plantar fascia, causing it to flatten painfully
Unsupportive shoes that easily bend in half or twist when you try to wring them out
Women are more at risk for this condition than men

At Foot and Ankle Center of Lake City, we'll work to help reduce your pain and inflammation; resolve calf tightness; address mechanical problems with over-the-counter inserts or custom orthotics; and teach you how to choose the right shoe for your feet. We can also refer you for physical therapy, if necessary.

Evaluating Your Condition

How do we know it's plantar fasciitis? We do a combination of the following to assess whether or not your heel pain is plantar fasciitis and to determine the source of the problem.

Examining your feet - this will help us determine the source of your pain and the degree of your equinus or tight calf muscles.
Watching you walk - observing you walk can tell us a lot about how your feet move. This includes if you overpronate, a common problem in the development of this condition.
Performing a gait analysis - we perform a gait analysis using special instruments to see the pressure points when you're standing and when you walk.
Checking your footwear - sometimes plantar fasciitis can be caused by poor footwear. We'll find out what you're currently wearing and whether or not you need to make a change.
Asking about your level of activity - since athletes are at higher risk for this condition, we'll ask you about your sports participation, its duration, and frequency.

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Heel Pain Treatments in North Seattle

Treatment for heel pain varies depending on the particular condition. Here are some of the most common treatment options we use to resolve painful heel problems:

Modalities to Reduce Pain and Inflammation in Plantar Fasciitis

The first thing our office will do when you come in with heel pain is tackle your pain and inflammation. We use a variety of modalities including:

cortisone injections,
MLS laser therapy
self-taping
Air heel (The Air heel reduces pain by lifting the heel off the ground and relaxing the pull of the Achilles tendon and calf muscle to diminish the stress on the plantar fascia
PRP or platelet-rich plasma

Learn more here!

Stretching to Relieve Tight Calf Muscles

Many patients with plantar fasciitis and heel pain also have tight calf muscles. Your calf muscle, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia are all connected. When the calf muscle and Achilles are too tight you'll pull too much on the plantar fascia when you walk or run, causing microtears and inflammation (plantar fasciitis). To relieve the tightness stretching is imperative.

Learn how to relieve your tight calf muscles here.

Custom Orthotics for Heel Pain

Abnormal foot mechanics is one of the biggest reasons people develop plantar fasciitis and heel pain. The best way to balance and support a foot that has an arch that is too flat or too high is through custom orthotics. Now we also have custom 3D printed orthotics. Learn more here about how custom orthotics are made and the conditions they treat.

MLS Laser Therapy

We now offer advanced medicine to help reduce the pain and inflammation of plantar fasciitis. MLS laser therapy is a cold laser that helps to speed your recovery by stimulating the body's own healing process.

Buying Proper Footwear to Resolve Plantar Fasciitis

One of the most important things that you can do on your own to resolve your plantar fasciits is to purchase proper footwear. Sometimes a change in footwear is the only thing that needs to change in order to get rid of plantar fasciitis. To learn how to shop for shoes with plantar fasciitis, download my book, "How to Buy Shoes to Prevent Plantar Fasciitis."

One shoe type that can help relieve plantar fasciitis is a rocker-bottom shoe.

Immobilization (use of a walking boot or similar)

Sometimes we need to completely prevent your feet from moving in order to put a stop to your inflammation. That's when we prescribe a walking boot.

Don't Go Barefoot

One of the worst things you can do is go barefoot at home when you have plantar fasciitis. That's because every time you take a step your plantar fascia gets stretched and it gets re-injured. Instead, wear a supportive sandal made by Oofos or Vionic.

Referrals to Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Some patients need additional help to reduce their inflammation and regain their strength. We refer to physical therapy for modalities like massage, additional stretching, and strength training.

Surgery

If conservative treatments prove insufficient, we can also discuss a variety of surgical options.

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Heel Pain Information for Runners and Hikers in Seattle

Stopping Heel Pain in Runners

Because heel pain is common in runners, I wrote an eBook called "The Complete Guide to Stopping Heel Pain In Runners". It contains a whole host of information specific to runners. You may also check out "How to Buy the Best Running Shoes for Your Feet".

Stopping Heel Pain in Hikers

If you're a hiker prone to heel pain, you know how bad things can get when out on the trail. In addition to the remedies listed above, read the blog I wrote specifically for hikers on how to stop heel pain, called "The Definitive Guide for Stopping Heel Pain in Hikers".

In addition, download my book, "How to Buy Hiking Boots to Prevent Plantar Fasciitis."

You'll also benefit greatly from watching my video, "How to Stop Heel Pain in Hikers".

Heel Pain in Children

Heel pain is also common in children. While kids can suffer from plantar fasciitis, youth athletes in particular can also develop another heel pain condition--Sever's Disease.

Treating Plantar Fasciitis in Children

Older children will receive the same treatment as adults including custom orthotics. Younger kids with pediatric flatfoot will be fit with a prefab orthotic called Little Steps. As your child's foot size increases they will receive the next size up.

Preventing Plantar Fasciitis in Children

To prevent plantar fasciitis in children, parents should:

avoid overuse (kids should increase their athletic activity gradually so their feet have time to recover)
make sure their kids stretch before and after activity. See stretching above.
ensure shoes are stable and supportive.