Do you suffer from pain in your heel when you take your first steps out of bed in the morning? Do you feel sharp pain on the bottom of your foot when walking or running? If either of these sound like you, you may have plantar fasciitis, and we can help!
Plantar fasciitis is definitely one of the most common causes of heel pain. As the weather starts to get nicer out, we see this condition more and more walking (or limping) through our front door. So what is plantar fasciitis exactly? It is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a thick fibrous band that runs from your heel to the bottom of the toes. It helps support the arch of the foot and aids in foot mechanics during walking, as well as providing shock absorption.
This is often an overuse injury that is primarily due to a repetitive strain but can occur as a result of trauma or other multifactorial causes. Some common risk factors for plantar fasciitis include:
– loss of ankle movement; typically ankle dorsiflexion (tight calves or restricted ankle and foot joint mobility)
– recent increased level of activity such as starting a walking or running program
– flat feet
– improper shoe fit or unsupportive footwear
– Elevated BMI (being overweight)
– Diabetes
Plantar fasciitis can be rather debilitating if not properly managed and symptoms may take months up to years to resolve. It is helpful to have your foot assessed and the cause(s) addressed promptly.
Treatment options include
– physiotherapy (manual therapy, dry needling, soft tissue release)
– activity modification (or sometimes rest from the aggravating activity)
– ice/NSAIDs for pain relief
– foot taping (can be great for pain relief)
– orthotics and proper footwear
– shockwave therapy
– exercise program (including individualized stretching and/or strengthening)
Reach out to us today to assess your foot pain and come up with the treatment plan that is right for you!