By Rami Basatneh, DPM

When you think of the kinds of injuries that might significantly impact a professional basketball team’s quest for a successful season ... heel pain does not often come to mind. However, to the podiatric medical community, it was no surprise to hear that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder guard who is averaging 23.7 per game, would miss a “significant amount of time” due to plantar fasciitis.

Podiatric physicians and surgeons treat this painful condition on a daily basis and witness firsthand how debilitating it can be. The plantar fascia is a band of fibrous connective tissue on the bottom surface of the foot, connecting the heel to the ball of the foot. Over time and with excessive strain to this structure, the fascia can develop microtears, which lead to a painful local inflammatory response. One of the most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis is severe heel pain after taking the first step in the morning.

Studies show that one of the factors that predispose patients to developing plantar fasciitis is equinus. People with equinus have a limited range of motion in their ankle joint due to a contracted calf muscle. Someone with equinus would have trouble bringing the top of the foot toward their shin. While a tight calf muscle may be the biomechanical root cause of the injury, a patient does not necessarily need to have equinus to develop plantar fasciitis. Repetitive stress from overuse in the settings of long hours of work on your feet or a rigorous athletic schedule may lead to this injury.

Treatment for plantar fasciitis involves a combination of therapies including rest, stretching, icing, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, and supportive shoe-gear and insoles. In some cases where there is no improvement seen with any conservative treatment, surgery may be indicated. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms related to plantar fasciitis, visit your local podiatrist for a consultation!