Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition affecting the sole of the foot, with pain usually localised around the front of the heel bone and radiating along the arch of the foot towards the toes. There is usually point tenderness on the insertion of the plantar fascia onto the heel bone with symptoms often worse on first waking or on first standing after prolonged periods of sitting

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can be an acute condition related to a sudden increase in walking or a change in shoe support, or even a direct impact on the sole of the foot, such as stepping onto a rock. The most common pattern of plantar fasciitis is of gradual onset related to faulty foot or lower limb biomechanics. Factors that may contribute to the development of this condition include poor foot position (over pronation), stiffness of the foot, ankle or knee, weakness of the muscles which stabilise the hip and lower limb, over training, poor footwear.

What can our Physios do to help?

Physiotherapy treatment is effective in settling the pain of plantar fasciitis quickly and usually the sooner we can provide treatment, the quicker we can settle your pain down. Treatment may include shockwave therapy, soft tissue massage, trigger point therapy or dry needling of the calf muscles and plantar facsia, mobiisations of joints of the foot and ankle and supportive taping of the foot to reduce the pressure on the planar fascia (foot arch).

Our physiotherapists will also provide a rehabilitation program of stretches and strength exercises based on your specific assessment findings and is able to prescribe orthotics if required.