If you have ever had to deal with plantar fasciitis, you know how awful the stabbing pain in your heel can be when you try to walk.

About one percent of Americans are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis each year. As they know, once you have the condition, it can be difficult to treat without major lifestyle changes, so when a new option is successful in treating the issue, doctors and patients alike take notice.

At Optima Foot and Ankle, we are seeing the benefits of PRP therapy for treating plantar fasciitis in our patients. Here’s what we know.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Your plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs from your heel to the base of your toes. Its basic function is to serve as a shock absorber, so it stretches and flexes with every step you take. This band can become inflamed and irritated because of microtears in the tissue, and this inflammation can be quite painful when you try to walk.

You may be more at risk for plantar fasciitis if you have to stand for long periods throughout the day, if you are overweight, if you have high or low arches, or if you dramatically increase the amount of activity you do.

Traditional treatment options include stretching, physical therapy, taping, steroids, anti-inflammatory meds, and even surgery if none of the other methods work.

How does PRP therapy work?

PRP therapy stands for platelet-rich plasma therapy. Your blood includes both plasma and platelets, which have proteins that help you heal. Because platelets have these healing properties, the idea behind PRP therapy is to create a plasma preparation that is extra-rich in platelets to help your fascia heal.

The team at Optima Foot and Ankle uses a centrifuge to spin your blood, which separates out the platelets. The platelets are then added to a plasma mixture, which is injected into your foot to stimulate the healing process in your fascia.

What can I expect?

Results are not instantaneous — you may need to limit your activity for a couple of days, but you should be able to resume normal activity soon afterward. Most patients see significant improvement after this procedure, which helps eliminate the need for more aggressive options such as surgery. Though every patient is different, most require only one to three treatments.

If you’re interested in exploring PRP therapy as a solution for your plantar fasciitis, contact Optima Foot and Ankle by phone or request an appointment with our online scheduler. We’d love you help you walk pain-free!