Chicago Bulls basketball star Joakim Noah has foot pain due to plantar fasciitis

According to the Chicago Tribune, NBA center Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls was almost certain to miss his third straight game last night against the Indiana Pacers, due to plantar fasciitis.  He hopes to return on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets.

Noah missed eighteen games when a similar injury affected his left foot during the 2009-10 season.  He eventually required Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis.

The plantar fascia is the broad ligament found at the plantar surface or sole of the foot.  It connects the heel bone to the toe bones and supports the arch.  If the foot is not supported properly it can become aggravated or irritated.  This can cause plantar fasciitis. A heel spur may be found on X-Ray but the spur is not what causes the pain, so it is generally not necessary to surgically remove it.

Classically the heel or arch hurts with the first few steps in the morning.  It tends to improve somewhat with a short amount of walking.  If you are on your feet a lot during the day and then you sit down for a while, it is often quite painful when you start walking again.  Often it does not hurt during sport but it hurts afterward.

If you have plantar fasciitis in  Toronto  you should seek help as soon as possible.  Do not allow it to become a chronic problem.

In order to heel the condition, it is important to relieve the excessive pull of the plantar fascia and relieve the irritation.

You can relieve the pull of the plantar fascia by improving the support for the foot.  This may involve replacing your running shoes.  You may also benefit from arch supports which can be purchased at the drug store.  If this is not helpful, your Toronto podiatrist can make made to measure Custom Foot Orthotics to wear in your shoes.  They will improve the mechanics of your foot and relieve the pull of the plantar fascia.

It is also important to relieve the inflammation.  This can be done with anti-inflammatory pills.  However, this is not a good idea if you have stomach problems, high blood pressure, or heart problems.

Another alternative is a cortisone injection.  If the correct area is targeted with the cortisone, this can relieve inflammation.  However, many people do not like  cortisone injections because they can weaken the connective tissue and can be painful.

In my podiatry office, I offer a sound wave treatment called radial wave or pressure wave. I often combine this with a super pulsed Laser Treatment.  I have found this combination to be quite effective for acute plantar fasciitis, that is, plantar fasciitis that has been present for only weeks or a few months.

If you have chronic plantar fasciitis, which has been present for more than several months, you may benefit from the same treatment that Joakim Noah had, namely Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy. I also perform this treatment in my Toronto foot clinic. 

If you, or someone you care about, suffer from heel or arch pain caused by plantar fasciitis, or any other foot pain, please call my Toronto podiatry office at 416-486-9917. My staff will set up a private consultation for you and I will do everything I can to get you pain free as soon as possible.