Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot pain at both the base of the heel and into the arch.
It typically feels like a burning pain in the arch, like you’ve bruised the base of your heel or like your whole foot is on fire! The pain may be worse in the morning when you first go to walk.
The plantar fascia is a a thick, weblike band that connects your heel bone to your the base of your toes. Getting on top of plantar fascia issues quickly can help to nip it in the bud before it worsens.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common of foot complaints. Your plantar fascia experiences a lot of wear and tear in your daily activities. Normally, the fascia act as a shock absorbers, supporting the arch of the foot. However too much pressure on your feet can damage or tear the plantar fascia, leaving it inflamed, irritated and stiff. Hence the pain!
As a Soft Tissue OT, I treat a lot of people with plantar fasciitis. The first step is assessing your foot to make sure it is actually plantar fasciitis, not another type of foot pain. And then we treat it accordingly.
Treatment often focuses on deloading all the soft tissue surrounding your plantar fascia, including those in your shin and foot. Sometimes we even need to look all the way up into your knee or your hip to make sure we’re properly getting on top of it! This often involves combining a few different treatment techniques to address your issues.
We then need to look at aggravating factors, whether it’s footwear choices, muscle weakness, poor biomechanics or an aggravating activity you’re doing to ensure you’re back on your pain-free feet in no time at all.
If you’re suffering from plantar fasciitis or know someone who is, feel free to get in touch with me. You can also book directly online for an appointment here.