Heel pain has a way of sneaking into everyday moments. It may strike first thing in the morning, after you’ve been sitting for a while, or during long periods of standing—turning simple activities into uncomfortable challenges. That sharp or aching sensation can feel sudden and confusing, leaving you wondering what’s causing it and why it keeps returning at the worst times.

This type of pain shouldn’t be brushed aside. In many cases, these symptoms point to plantar fasciitis, a common and highly treatable condition caused by strain on the tissue that supports your foot’s arch. With a proper evaluation and professional care from Sunshein Podiatry, plantar fasciitis doesn’t have to control your routine—relief is possible, and getting back to pain-free movement can be well within reach.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

This condition occurs when inflammation develops along the thick band of strong tissue—the plantar fascia—on the bottom of your foot. This tissue runs from the heel bone to the toes, and plays a big role in the movement of your foot and with every step you take. Most of the time, the plantar fascia works as a type of shock absorber so that when you walk, the impact of that movement isn't felt throughout your whole body.

However, the plantar fascia can suffer from damage, including small tears and overstretching. This may happen because you're:

  • On your feet all day for work.
  • Exercising on hard surfaces.
  • Suffering from flat feet or high arches.
  • Not able to warm up well before exercising.
  • Wearing unsupportive shoes, such as flip flops.

What Are Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?

The most common indication is to consider what happens when you wake up in the morning. If you experience a stabbing pain in your heel immediately upon getting out of bed, it's likely due to plantar fasciitis. The discomfort often subsides slightly over a few minutes. Other symptoms include:

  • Pain in the heel or at the back of your foot
  • Sharp sensations that are worse when you take a step but improve over time
  • Heel pain after standing for long periods of time
  • Discomfort that occurs when you've been sitting for a long time and get up to walk

How Can Sunshein Podiatry Help Treat Your Plantar Fasciitis?

The good news is that most people experience great improvement in their condition with professional care. The first step is to contact us for a thorough examination. It's best to have a licensed podiatrist evaluate your foot or heel pain to ensure you have access to the most innovative and effective treatments for foot ailments.

We help many people throughout the greater Dayton area in our Centerville practice find the right treatment solution for plantar fasciitis. You may find relief with the following non-invasive care options: 

  • Rest and stretching. Sometimes, the best initial treatment is to rest the foot and allow the tissue to heal. In some situations, you’ll also get physical therapy that will allow for the stretching of the plantar fascia as well as the Achilles tendon. This helps build up more muscle in your leg, which helps minimize the amount of force on the plantar fascia. In fact, for many of our patient-athletes, this is often a necessary requirement to help relieve heel pain.
  • Custom orthotics. Often, orthotics work very well as a treatment for plantar fasciitis. Unlike generic, over-the-counter inserts, they're designed for the specific shape and function of your foot, ensuring proper support with every step. Sunshein Podiatry's medical orthotics may help to reduce the amount of pressure on your feet and especially the plantar fascia.
  • Laser treatment. Our Multiwave Locked System (MLS) laser therapy could be the right choice for many people who have more advanced conditions that aren't improving as desired through other methods. This is a low-level laser therapy that doesn't cause pain—rather, it's an innovative treatment designed to reduce heel pain and inflammation in the impacted area.

Seek out a proper diagnosis so treatment options can be assessed based on your unique needs. For many of our patients, a combination of therapies will be the most effective. Let us help you step into your best life once again, pain-free.

Don't Let Heel Pain Hold You Back

If heel pain is making your mornings difficult or limiting your ability to stay active, professional care can help. Morning heel pain is often a sign of an underlying condition like plantar fasciitis that benefits from early treatment. With the right diagnosis and a personalized care plan, it’s possible to reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent the problem from becoming chronic.

Schedule an appointment with our Centerville podiatrists today to evaluate your heel pain and discuss treatment options designed for long-term relief. Our Centerville practice welcomes patients from throughout the greater Dayton area, including Kettering, Beavercreek, Miamisburg, and the surrounding Miami Valley communities.