Plantar Fasciitis

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Plantar fasciitis affects one million people each year and two thirds of them end up seeing their doctor because they can't deal with the pain. Plantar fasciitis affects athletes and non-athletes alike. The pain is usually in the heel and it is thought to be caused by biomechanical overuse from prolonged standing or running.

Most patients say they have heel pain after standing up from bed in the morning or if they have been sitting for a long time. Usually it gets better with walking but in some cases it actually gets worse by the day's end if the patient walks for a long time.

Initially the best way to treat it is rest, ice massage and anti-inflammatory medications. There are stretching techniques that can help. If the pain continues physical therapy can be prescribed as well as night splinting. There are devices called foot orthotics that can help and in severe cases corticosteroid injections are used.

In most cases it gets better over time.

Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor