Question 1

Does Plantar Fasciitis Cause Aching Feet in the Morning?

Accepted Answer

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot which lends support to the arch of the foot. Think of it as a shock-absorbing bowstring, pulled tight beneath the arch of your foot.

If too much tension and stress are placed on this bowstring, it can tear. Repetitive stretching and tearing in the fascia causes inflammation and irritation, which results in the pain you feel in the bottoms of your feet when you wake up in the morning.

With plantar fasciitis, the pain will be localized in the heel area, or in the arch of the foot. Early in the course of the injury, the pain will only present when you place weight on the plantar fascia after a period of rest. As the injury progresses and worsens, the pain will persist even after you’ve been up and about for several hours.

Question 2

Why Do My Feet Hurt When I Wake Up?

Accepted Answer

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue along the bottom of the foot which lends support to the arch of the foot. Think of it as a shock-absorbing bowstring, pulled tight beneath the arch of your foot.

If too much tension and stress are placed on this bowstring, it can tear. Repetitive stretching and tearing in the fascia causes inflammation and irritation, which results in the pain you feel in the bottoms of your feet when you wake up in the morning.

With plantar fasciitis, the pain will be localized in the heel area, or in the arch of the foot. Early in the course of the injury, the pain will only present when you place weight on the plantar fascia after a period of rest. As the injury progresses and worsens, the pain will persist even after you’ve been up and about for several hours.

Question 3

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Accepted Answer

Plantar fasciitis can occur for any number of reasons, including:

Age. Plantar fasciitis is most common between the ages of 40 and 60.
Certain types of exercise. Activities that place a lot of stress on your heel and attached tissue, such as long-distance running, ballistic jumping activities, ballet dancing and aerobic dance, all contribute to early-onset plantar fasciitis. If you are an athlete, for instance, and have recently begun an intense bout of training for a marathon, you may experience pain in bottoms of your feet in the mornings due to plantar fasciitis.
Foot mechanics. Being “flat-footed”, or having extremely high arches or even an abnormal walking pattern affects the way weight is distributed along the plantar fascia.
Obesity. Extra weight puts extra stress on the plantar fascia.
Occupations that keep you on your feet. Aside from athletes, factory workers, teachers, nurses, or others who spend most of their workday walking or standing on hard surfaces can damage the plantar fascia.

Question 4

Is There a Treatment for Aching Feet in the Morning?

Accepted Answer

Most people afflicted with plantar fascia can improve their condition with conservative methods. Before you get out of bed in the morning, try massaging your foot and stretch the plantar fascia. You can roll your foot over a golf ball or massage it with your hand.

Icing the painful area is also helpful. Medications such as ibuprofen and Aleve will ease the pain and inflammation associated with plantar fasciitis.

Question 5

Will Achilles Tendonitis Cause Aching Feet in the Morning?

Accepted Answer

Aching Feet in the Morning: Achilles Tendonitis

If you’ve attempted to treat plantar fasciitis and are still asking “why do my feet hurt when I wake up?”, Achilles tendonitis could present similar symptoms.

The Achilles tendon is the most powerful tendon in the human body. It connects the backs of your calf muscles to your heel bone and enables movement in the ankle.

Achilles tendinitis is an overuse injury of this tendon and is most common in runners who have suddenly increased the intensity or duration of their runs. It’s also common in middle-aged people who play sports regularly.

Achilles tendinitis can occur for many reasons, including but not limited to:

Your sex. Achilles tendinitis is most common in men.
Age. The older you are, the more common Achilles tendinitis becomes
Physical problems. If you have flat feet more strain is placed on the Achilles tendon. Obesity and overly-tight calf muscles are also contributing factors.
Training choices. Running in worn-out shoes increases the risk of tendinitis. Tendon pain will occur more frequently in cold weather and running in hilly terrain can predispose you to Achilles injury.
Medical conditions. People who have psoriasis or high blood pressure are at higher risk of developing Achilles tendonitis.
Medications. Certain types of antibiotics are correlated with higher rates of Achilles tendinitis.

Question 6

How Do You Treat Achilles Tendinitis

Accepted Answer

Aching Feet in the Morning: Treatment for Achilles Tendinitis

Tendinitis responds well to self-care methods. If your early morning foot pain is a result of Achilles tendinitis, the pain will be localized to the tendon area, on the back of your ankle above the heel. Stretching this area several times throughout the day can be helpful in alleviating symptoms.

Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen will help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Avoiding exercise for a few days or switching to an activity like swimming that doesn’t strain the Achilles tendon can help ease the pain.

Icing the painful area is always helpful.

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