Myths and Misconceptions About Plantar Fasciitis

Most people know close to nothing about plantar fasciitis. People are not inclined to read up on the foot disease unless someone they know or they themselves have the condition–which is why it’s no surprise that it’s a condition fraught with myths and misconceptions.

Before we discuss, dissect, and debunk the myths surrounding plantar fasciitis, let’s get down get down its basics first. Here’s the lowdown on the foot condition.

·        Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, or the thick fibrous band of tissue that connects the toes to the heel bones, is irritated or inflamed.

·        The plantar fascia gets strained or injured with repetitive pressure or stretching.

·        Plantar fasciitis results in chronic pain in the heel. The pain usually spikes during mornings and after long periods of rest.

·        When left untreated, plantar fasciitis can cause crippling chronic pain and develop into a life-altering condition. 

·        Plantar fasciitis is a common affliction that affects not only professional dancers and athletes but normal people as well.

·        There are many ways to prevent or treat plantar fasciitis. The most common of which is plantar fasciitis insoles.

Got the gist of plantar Fasciitis? Great! Now, keep these facts in mind as we dive into the most prevalent myths and misconceptions about the foot affliction.

MYTH #1: Plantar fasciitis is connected to heel spurs.

FACT: Heel spurs are not directly connected to plantar fasciitis.

The latter is not caused by the former. Hence, surgically removing heel spurs won’t cure plantar fasciitis. It’s also worth noting that people who develop the heel spurs don’t always experience pain while people who develop the plantar fasciitis always experience pain (in varying degrees).

MYTH #2: Plantar fasciitis is hereditary.

FACT: Plantar fasciitis has no direct genetic predisposition.

Just because your father and uncle have it, doesn’t mean that you will too. There are foot afflictions that can be inherited, like bunion formation, but plantar fasciitis is not one of them.

MYTH #3: Only people with “flat feet” can develop plantar fasciitis.

FACT: Anyone can develop plantar fasciitis.

As mention before, the condition develops through continuous strain, pressure, or injury of the plantar fascia, certainly not by an anatomical trait.

MYTH #4: Plantar fasciitis has no cure.

FACT: Plantar fasciitis is curable, the “cure” just varies from person to person.

Just like most afflictions, there is no one blanket cure for plantar fasciitis. Doctors have to carefully assess the patient’s condition before coming up with a treatment plan. If you have plantar fasciitis, keep this in mind when you go searching for a cure. Take all the results that pop up when you search “plantar fasciitis treatment in Singapore” online with a grain of salt.

MYTH #5: Only surgery can fix plantar fasciitis.

FACT: Surgery is not the only treatment for plantar fasciitis

Doctors would never recommend surgery to patients with plantar fasciitis right off the bat. Surgery is only considered when the plantar fascia is completely ruptured or broken into two pieces.

Foot conditions, their cures, and their treatments are often plagued with misconceptions. Take plantar warts for example. If you search online for “plantar warts removal in Singapore” or something similar, you’ll likely end up with a lot of results singing praises to and warning against its implementation. It’s important to understand that the praises don’t necessarily nullify the warnings and vice versa.

Make sure you do your research well before panicking a foot condition and investing in any cure or treatment.