Question 1

What makes plantar fasciitis come back after it has healed?

Accepted Answer

Because only the pain is calmed while the way you use your foot stays the same. Even after the inflammation settles, if the same force keeps landing on the same spot, it swells again.

Question 2

If foot pain remains after shockwave therapy, what do you look at again?

Accepted Answer

It's not that the treatment was wrong; we need to see whether the conditions that caused the pain are still there. If the collapsed arch and the way you walk stay the same, it comes back even after the inflammation settles.

Question 3

When only one foot hurts, why do you also look at the other side?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us that when they get out of bed in the morning and take the first step, the foot hurts as if it's tearing. It eases a little after walking, but it gets worse as time goes on.

Question 4

Should flat feet be treated even when they cause no symptoms?

Accepted Answer

No. Many people have flat feet without any discomfort. If it doesn't hurt and doesn't get in the way of walking, we leave it alone.

Question 5

Can high-arched feet (pes cavus) also cause pain?

Accepted Answer

They can. People mostly talk about flat feet with collapsed arches, but feet with arches that are too high can't absorb shock either, and that causes trouble.

Question 6

How do you choose between off-the-shelf and custom insoles?

Accepted Answer

Store-bought insoles are made for an average foot shape. Custom insoles decide which points to support and how much, based on your own arch height and the path your weight travels.

Question 7

What changes with non-surgical treatment for bunions (hallux valgus)?

Accepted Answer

It is hard to reverse the angle that has already bent without surgery. But the pain, and how fast it keeps bending, can be managed without surgery.

Question 8

How does foot balance lead to knee and lower back pain?

Accepted Answer

The foot is the first place the body touches the ground. When that first point tilts, the knees and pelvis above it tilt along to keep balance, and walking in that tilted state is repeated thousands of times a day.

Question 9

If my back hurts more when standing, why do you look at the feet as well?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us they thought their back hurt from sitting too long, but it's actually worse when they walk or stand. That detail is the clue.

Question 10

If foot fatigue stays the same even after changing shoes, what do you check?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us their soles feel heavy after walking only a little. They thought the shoes were the problem and tried several pairs, but nothing changed.

Question 11

When a child's posture looks tilted, why do you check the feet first?

Accepted Answer

Parents tell us that in photos, one shoulder looks higher and the back looks rounded. They come in about posture, but when we ask, the feet come up.

Question 12

How do you break the cycle of knee pain reducing your activity?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us their knee is swollen and painful, every walk is hard, and going down stairs makes them nervous. Often the lower back is uncomfortable too.

Plantar Fasciitis · Flat Feet

🏥 FAQs by Condition

Plantar fasciitis

Foot shape · Insoles

Feet, knees and lower back

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