Do you have any advice for people with plantar fasciitis? Dr. Mallika Marshall answers your questions

BOSTON - Dr. Mallika Marshall is answering your latest health questions. If you have a question, email her or message her on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter).

Salina writes, "I suffer from plantar fasciitis.  Do you have any advice for me?"

The plantar fascia is a tough band of tissue on the bottom of the foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. This band of tissue can get inflamed, typically causing pain in the heel when you first get out of bed or after being seated for some time.  

The pain usually eases as you walk around. The best ways to treat the condition are to ice your heel several times a day, perform certain foot exercises, take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain medications, and wear shoes with good arch support.  

Other options include wearing splints at night which keep your foot straight or using special shoe inserts.  Some patients need steroid injections, but surgery is rarely necessary.

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Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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