Heel Pain – Plantar Fasciitis

 
If you wake up dreading putting your feet on the ground and taking those first few steps because of an intense pain in your heels, then it sounds like you could have Plantar Fasciitis. Don’t worry! While this condition can be extremely limiting and painful, you’re in the perfect place as heel pain is one of our specialities here at Perform Podiatry. Here’s what you need to know about Plantar Fasciitis.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Your plantar fascia is a thick connective tissue band that runs from the bottom of your heel (where you’ll be feeling your pain) and spans out like a fan to connect into your toes. It works to help support your arch and foot and you engage it and put pressure on it every single time you take a step. Plantar fasciitis describes the condition where your plantar fascia has become damaged, and as a result is painful and often inflamed. Damage occurs when the fascia is overloaded to a point that it can’t tolerate, and so it gets small tears through its fibres. If the damage is bad, the plantar fascia can be partially torn or may completely rupture. Factors that contribute to overloading and subsequent damage can include (among many more):

• Sudden increase in physical activity or training
• Faulty foot biomechanics
• Unsupportive footwear
• High-impact activities
• Activities that strain the arch (and hence fascia) such as stair climbing
• Increased weight
• Trauma/injury to the heel – such as standing on a sharp rock or jumping down from a high surface

While the above factors are more common, Plantar Fasciitis can result from any activity or action that places great tension on the fascia beyond normal limits.

How do I know if I have Plantar Fasciitis?

Because there are other tissues and structures around your heels and arch, the first step is to see your Podiatrist so they can confirm a diagnosis and rule out the pain being caused by anything else. Typical signs of Plantar Fasciitis include:

• Pain located on the bottom and/or inner heel that can radiate up into the arch
• First step pain in the morning that may ease as you continue to walk
• Pain on standing after sitting/rest
• Pain can range from a mild discomfort to an intense stabbing pain

How is it treated?

The first step to treatment is getting a complete picture of what is happening with your feet and what the cause is, especially as there are often multiple contributing causes. From there, your Podiatrist will create a comprehensive treatment plan for you that takes into consideration your daily activities, lifestyle and goals. Initially, the focus of the treatment plan will be to reduce your current symptoms and get you out of pain, while long-term your treatment plan will work to prevent this from happening again. Once you’ve had plantar fasciitis, you’re more likely to damage your fascia again, so this must be a primary focus.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your treatment may include:

• PRICE – protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation may be initially used to reduce pain and swelling
• Orthotic shoe inserts – these will support the arch and reduce strain and tension on the plantar fascia so it can begin to heal as opposed to being constantly stretched during walking. Custom orthotics can also correct any faulty foot biomechanics you may have that contributed to this condition developing
• Stretching – once the initial pain and inflammation settle, and you are able to handle gentle stretching, stretching the fascia can help reduce and prevent the onset of painful symptoms. Because other tight muscles in the feet and legs can pull on the heel and therefore the fascia, stretching will also focus on other tight muscle groups too
• Strengthening – working to strengthen the muscles of the feet and legs can improve your overall foot and leg function, thereby reducing the risk of injury. Strengthening exercises will be prescribed on a case-by-case basis after reviewing the results of your assessment.
• Footwear– your regular footwear will be checked and discussed to make sure it’s helping your recovery and not hindering you
• Strapping – strapping can reduce painful symptoms by keeping your foot in a position that relieves strain and pressure from the plantar fascia
• Shockwave Therapy - Delivers targeted acoustic waves into the fascia to stimulate tissue repair, break down scar tissue, and relieve pain — especially effective for chronic or treatment-resistant cases.
  
• Laser Therapy - We use high-powered Class IV medical laser technology to reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and accelerate tissue healing at the cellular level.
  
• Acupuncture or Dry Needling - This technique helps release tight muscles, relieve pain, and improve circulation. It is often combined with other therapies for a more comprehensive approach.

Depending on your symptoms and circumstances, various other treatment modalities may be recommended for your recovery, such as splints and pads.

Your podiatrist will also provide helpful tips to get the best and fastest recovery, as well as referring you for an ultrasound or x-ray where necessary.
Perform Podiatry specialises in managing Plantar Fasciitis and heel pain. If you’re struggling with heel pain and suspect it may be Plantar Fasciitis, our expert team will get you on the road to recovery in no time!

We understand that Plantar Fasciitis is frustrating and often limits our patients ability to conduct regular daily tasks when they’re on their feet and hence have a significant negative impact on their quality of life. At Perform Podiatry, we’re proud to be leaders in the field of clinical biomechanics and specialise in the various causes of heel pain – and of course how to effectively treat them! We maintain a high level of clinical excellence in everything we do – come in, experience it for yourself, and stop putting up with your heel pain!

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