Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of foot problems and heel pain.
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition and one of the main causes of heel pain – specifically the bottom of the heel, the bit we stand on. The pain is often severe and can cause you to limp and find it difficult to walk.
Plantar Fasciitis can prevent you from enjoying your hobbies, especially sports. Sometimes, the condition can force you to take sick leave, and we’ve known people struggle so badly they can't put their foot down.
What Can Go Wrong?
The plantar fascia is a flat band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes, supporting the arch of your foot. If you strain your plantar fascia, it becomes weak, swollen & inflamed, causing foot pain.
Up to 15% of all adults will get plantar fasciitis at one point or another in their life. It tends to affect to 40-60 year age group, but can also happen at any age. The condition occurs in people with an obesity issue and in sports people.
Image courtesy of Injurymap
Common symptoms of Plantar fasciitis include:
The chronic pain is most acute when you first put your weight on the heel – first thing in the morning particularly or when you get up from sitting
The pain may often come on after longer walks or periods of standing
There’s usually nothing to see – maybe some mild swelling
The pain is all on the inside!
What Can Cause Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the part of your foot that connects your heel bone to your toes (plantar fascia).
The risk factors below mean you may be more likely to get plantar fasciitis if you:
Recently started exercising on hard surfaces
Exercise with a tight Achilles tendon, calf muscles or heel
Overstretch the bottom of your foot during exercise
Recently started doing a lot more walking, running or standing up
Wear shoes with poor cushioning or support
Are very overweight
Have high arches or flat feet
Specialist Treatment and Prevention of Plantar Fasciitis...
We don’t recommend ignoring it. It is commonplace for the pain to become increasingly chronic and then you struggle to get rid of it. A recent study found at 10 years after it started 44% still had symptoms when not treated.
If you start to develop the signs, rest and protect the heel area. Stop the sport or hobby that triggered it for a few weeks. Stop going barefoot or in flip-flops or slippers. Wear cushioned, supportive footwear, including trainers, wear shoe inserts at all times.
Keep active – don’t become afraid to weight-bear but equally cut down on long periods of standing and overuse. Practice stretching exercises, taping the ankle and arch of the foot to stabilise the foot.
Anti-inflammatory medication or ibuprofen don’t help much unfortunately. But consider an ice pack or you might find either a heel pad. An over-the-counter arch support or supportive shoes could help.
If after a few weeks the pain is lingering or stopping you from going back to full work or sport, we would recommend an assessment to consider if you're going to need further treatment of plantar fasciitis.
At The Medical, we specialise in the diagnosis, medical advice, healthcare treatment, pain relief and prevention of Plantar Fasciitis:
Orthotics - our custom foot orthotics help with plantar fasciitis by providing strength and support to the arch and bottom of the foot. Holding the foot in its optimal position, the insoles help stabilise the arch to allow healing & recovery of the plantar fascia ligament
Treatment - our experts will combine manual therapy, acupuncture and physical therapy rehabilitation exercises
Your road to recovery begins with a full assessment including Gait Analysis.
