Plantar fasciitis
What is plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a common and painful condition that affects the bottom of the foot. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the sole of your foot, connecting your heel to your toes, becomes irritated or inflamed. The main symptom of plantar fasciitis is heel pain, particularly when first getting out of bed in the morning, or when standing after sitting for a long period of time.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
Often there is no specific onset. The following factors increase your risk of developing plantar fasciitis however:
- Overuse or excessive physical stress on the feet, such as running, jumping or standing for long periods.
- Improper footwear is a common factor in plantar fasciitis. Suddenly changing footwear from shoes with a slight heel to a very flat shoe (such as a flip-flop) can bring on plantar fasciitis. Shoes that don’t fit well, or have poor arch supports or a hard sole can contribute to plantar fasciitis also.
- Age can be a factor, with the risk of plantar fasciitis increasing with age as the plantar fascia begins to degenerate and the muscles of the feet and legs weaken.
- Biomechanical factors such as having flat feet or high arches can make individuals more susceptible to plantar fasciitis.
- Excess body weight can place added stress on the feet and plantar fascia, increasing the likelihood of inflammation and pain.
What can I do to help if I have plantar fasciitis?
There are many things you can do to help improve the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. These include:
- Reduce the impact on your feet by reducing or resting from high-impact exercise such as running or jumping or by reducing the amount of time spent standing.
- Ensure you’re wearing proper fitting shoes that have good arch supports, cushioned soles and a slight heel.
- Stretch the soles of your feet.
- Apply ice packs onto the soles of your feet.
Are there any treatments that help plantar fasciitis?
There are a number of treatments available at Castle Clinic that can help plantar fasciitis, including:
- Acupuncture – our acupuncturists use acupuncture needles to stimulate circulation to the feet, promote healing, reduce inflammation and pain.
- Osteopathy – using joint mobilisation, stretches and massage of the feet, the osteopaths aim to improve the function of the feet, improve circulation to reduce foot and heel pain.
- Physiotherapy – using exercise prescription, the physiotherapist will advise on stretching exercises and progressive strengthening to improve the mobility and resilience of the soft tissues of the feet.
- Shockwave therapy – this pioneering technology loads the plantar fascia with pressure and sound waves in a controlled manner to regulate inflammation, reduce pain and promote healing.
If you are struggling with foot and heel pain and would like to make an appointment, please visit our booking page or call reception on 01423 797800.