Plantar Fasciitis

What is Plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis or plantar heel pain is present in 9.6% of the population, and disabling plantar heel pain is 7.9% in adults over 50 (“CKS,” 2020). It is a band of tissue that connects from underneath your heel to your toes and is there to support the arch and absorb shock. With plantar fasciitis, microtears often develop, and the plantar fascia thickens over time. Most people have "first-step pain” with this condition, which can be mild or severe which eases as the day goes on but worsens later in the day.

Remember that not all cases of heel pain are "Plantar Fasciitis. " There are many different types of heel pain, so it is important to rule out other causes.

picture and diagram of foot for plantar fasciitis

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Excessive walking or running activities that are beyond what your body is used to can lead to damage and pain in the plantar fascia. For example, if you suddenly attempt a longer run that you've never done before, it can overload the plantar fascia and cause discomfort. Additionally, standing for extended periods on concrete or hard floors, whether at work or during other activities, can also put additional strain on the plantar fascia, leading to damage and pain.

The choice of footwear is another essential factor. For instance, flat shoes with less cushioning and a greater bend in the toe box can increase the workload on the plantar fascia, leading to more strain and discomfort.

There are also other causes of heel pain, such as neuropathic pain in the heel caused by low back pain, insertional Achilles tendinopathy, and Baxter's nerve entrapment, among others. Since each type of heel pain has distinctive symptoms, it's necessary to have an in-depth assessment and treatment plan to determine the cause of your specific pain.

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

  • Specific Pain over the heel bone

  • Pain worse when standing and eases when sitting

  • 'First step pain’ is particularly worse which eases as you begin your day. Having pain at night time resting is a sign of nerve pain.

  • Sometimes there may be pain in the arch

  • The pain is often described as a sharp pain, and specific to one or two areas.

feeling Plantar Fasciitis

Treatment For Plantar Fasciitis/Plantar Heel Pain

Depending on the type of heel pain you have, some of the treatments include:

  • Insoles/Orthotics to take pressure off your heel. These may be simple cushioning devices for the heel or custom orthotics depending on your circumstances.

  • A change in footwear will relieve pressure on your heel. This could be a temporary switch to more cushioned footwear to protect the plantar fascia.

  • At Dunford Health we particularly like HOKA footwear which have rocker soles that reduce pressure on the plantar fascia.

  • Advice on activity/load management. Reducing certain activities, such as walking or running temporarily, can help relieve pain.

  • Managing your running distances is important in preventing injuries. Tools such as the “acute chronic work ratio” are excellent at determining if you are at risk of injury or not.

Further Treatment Should your Symptoms not Improve

  • Corticosteroid injection under the guidance of an ultrasound scan.

These additional treatments can be arranged for you at Dunford Health.

What Should You Do About Your Heel Pain?

At Dunford health we recommend an initial Foot and Ankle pain assessment to identify the cause of your heel pain and give you a diagnosis. Once you have a diagnosis it can be much easier to treat your heel pain as you will be confident in the treatments available to you. We will guide you through the treatment step by step until you are pain-free.