Dustin McGowan with Plantar Fasciitis

Dustin McGowan, pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, has recently been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis in his right foot.  This injury comes as part of a streak of injuries to McGowan, most notably Tommy John surgery on his throwing shoulder as well as suffering from several other shoulder and labrum injuries.  The right-hander was just given a two-year, $3 million contract extension to stay with the Jays. 

The plantar fasciitis injury, luckily, is being reported as not serious.  Blue Jays fans and teammates hope that McGowan can recover quickly, and perhaps in time for the season opener.  Dustin McGowan is currently listed as day-to-day. 

Plantar fasciitis is a condition of the foot that most commonly presents as heel pain.  It is common to feel the pain with the first few steps of the day, or after a period of rest.  The pain can be excruciating for some, while others may be able to deal with it.  The pain may ease a bit after the first few steps following rest are taken, but will typically develop as the day progresses.  This is especially true for people who spend a lot of time on their feet.

Plantar fasciitis is caused by excessive strain on the plantar fascia, which is a structure located on the bottom of the foot.  This excessive pressure may come from things such as foot mechanics, foot structure, increased activity, or excessive weight.  The condition may begin as an acute inflammatory reaction to this excessive strain, but generally presents as a chronic condition.  

Most cases of plantar fasciitis will resolve with rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and orthotic devices.  The orthotics may be over-the-counter type devices or custom molded to a person’s foot.  Other methods of treatment may include injection of cortisone into the area, ultrasound therapy, or other advanced modalities. 

Occasionally, a case of plantar fasciitis may be bad enough to warrant surgical correction.  These cases are generally instances where conservative therapy has failed after several months or even years.  Surgical intervention involves cutting a small portion of the plantar fascia to relieve some of the tension on the structure.  The plantar fascia serves to keep much of the integrity of the structure of the foot, so caution should be taken by the foot and ankle surgeon not to compromise this integrity. 

As for Dustin McGowan, hopefully his case of plantar fasciitis will resolve soon.  Keep an eye on his progress to see how this injury will affect his starting date this season. 

Central Florida Foot and Ankle Center, LLC. 
101 6TH St. NW. 
Winter Haven, Fl. 33881 
863-299-4551 
www.FLFootandAnkle.com