Plantar Fasciitis - What is it? How do I get rid of it?

First it was just a dull ache that went away after walking, now it’s a constant stabbing pain in my heel. How did I get here and WHY WON’T IT STOP HURTING?

The dreaded plantar fascia pain. A condition we love to hate. As podiatrists, we see this day in and day out - it’s our bread and butter. For patients, it’s something you don’t want to be familiar with!

Often left untreated for weeks and even months, plantar fascia pain or plantar fasciitis can be a debilitating injury that can quickly turn chronic.

The plantar fascia is a thick fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. It attempts to maintain your arch and helps your foot propulse forward. It’s actually a really important player in your biomechanics!

Typically pain first starts in the morning or after sitting down. You get up from your desk to get a coffee and you’re quickly reminded of that annoying pain in your heel. You might have started a running program to lose those dreaded COVID kilos, or you’ve been away (finally) somewhere warmer and those flat, rubber thongs suddenly became your footwear of choice. But your heel just won’t. Stop. Hurting.

So what causes plantar fasciitis? Well, it’s often not caused by just one thing, but a combination of a few things all poorly timed, which triggers an inflammatory response in the plantar fascia.

Such triggers might include:

• Poor footwear

• Increased pronation

• Flat feet

• High arched feet

• Increase in physical activity - especially the high impact kind! (HIIT workouts - I’m looking at you)

• Weight gain

• Tight calf muscles

• Injuries affecting one side of the body

• Worn out shoes

So, you can see why it can be difficult to isolate the cause of your plantar fasciitis pain on your own. That’s why seeking a professional opinion from your podiatrist is the best solution.

While treatment options can vary, after years in the trade, I am happy to advise that there is often a winning combination. Treatment plans are tailored to each person, though will usually include a combination of:

• The right footwear and addressing the biomechanical component, often by using some form of orthotic therapy. The main takeaway is that your foot is a weight bearing structure and an orthotic provides more foundation under this structure. This subsequently takes stress and loading off of the plantar fascia, reducing inflammation.

• Tissue repair! Without getting into too much detail, the makeup of the plantar fascia means it is a very slow tissue to heal, and shockwave therapy can make a huge difference. Shockwave therapy has been around for decades, and uses energy waves to stimulate tissue repair, increase blood flow and reduce pain by providing an analgesic effect.

Hopefully that has shed some light on why your foot and heel might be sore and more importantly, how to fix it.

Sound like you? Get in touch today and book an appointment today.