About Plantar Fasciitis - Kirkland Foot Orthotics

Plantar Fasciitis, also known as heel pain or heel spur syndrome, is the most common cause of heel pain in the United States if not the world. It is the number one reason people see a podiatrist. There are many misconceptions about the condition. I address these questions every day in my office.

The plantar fascia is a tight ligament on the bottom of your foot, extending from the heel to the ball of the foot. Its function is to help maintain the arch of your foot while walking and standing. It is most commonly injured by regular use of the foot over time as you walk the 8,000 to 12,000 steps you take every day. Increased physical activities and athletics can also play a role, as well as poor footwear.

Many people come into my office complaining of their "heel spur" hurting. The heel spur is not the cause of pain, but a result of the fascia pulling on the heel bone. Because the fascia is so tight, the bone begins to form a bone callus commonly known as bone spur.

The pain is from the inflammation and pulling of the fascia, not the spur. No matter what your neighbor, coworker and other internet sites tell you, the spur is not your problem. That is why 90% of people with plantar fasciitis get better without surgery. You can have a heel spur without pain, or have pain without a heel spur.

The heel spur misconception is what leads many people to put a heel cushion to try and relieve their pain. Intuitively this makes sense, but it's just not how the foot works. You need to support the arch to take away the tension on the fascia. As the arch collapses when you walk, the fascia becomes tighter and more painful. Because Plantar Fasciitis is a daily concern for so many of my patients, I have had the opportunity to see the wide variety of products that people will experiment with to rid their heel pain. These soft products don't work because they do not take into account how the foot functions.

The foundation of treatment for treating patients with Plantar Fasciitis is to prescribe orthotics. My success rate with these devices is outstanding, and that success is what has led to this website. I use advanced aerospace composite orthotics designed by one of the premier professional orthotics labs in the country Northwest Podiatric Laboratories and their sister company Superfeet.

These orthotics are not sold in stores, on their company websites, or on any other website.

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This site and the information provided is for informational purposes only. Neither it nor the products sold here are designed to diagnose, treat or cure any problem. Contact your physician for further information, diagnosis, testing, treatment or advice on how to use the information or products contained in this site.

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