Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation to the plantar fascia of the foot resulting in severe heel and or foot pain. The purpose of this blog is to help you understand the role of the plantar fascia, why it can become inflamed and how Physiotherapy management can help.

The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that supports the arch on the under side of the foot. The fascia runs from the calcaneus (heel bone) to the metatarsal bones (the base of the toes). The role of the plantar fascia is to stabilise the foot whilst you are walking and to provide shock absorption when your foot hits the ground.

Commonly, injuries to the plantar fascia are due to overuse. This can be an acute or chronic overuse. Acutely the plantar fascia may be inflamed when a large amount of stress is placed on the foot over a short period of time, conversely it may be injured when a repeated stress is placed on the foot over a longer period of time. In both cases, the load placed on the plantar fascia exceeds the loading capabilities of the planter fascia resulting in inflammation.

Characteristics of plantar fasciitis include pain at the heel or the arch of your foot, pain with prolonged exercise and pain first thing in the morning or after resting for long periods. On physical assessment your Physiotherapist should be able to reproduce your pain on functional testing of the foot. Depending on your severity, pain will be produced anywhere between a 2 foot heel raise to a 1 foot hop.  You will likely have pain on a plantar fascia stretch and commonly a reduced knee to wall indicating some tightness in surrounding structures such as the Achilles and calf.

Here at MTM Physiotherapy Warwick, we are experts in the management of Plantar fasciitis. A treatment will likely include some ultrasound around the attachment point (if you are particularly inflamed) as well as some deep tissue massage to the plantar fascia. Depending on your clinical findings there may also be some treatment to the calf. Taping of the foot to offload the plantar fascia is also extremely effective. Our physiotherapists keep up to date with the current literature which points toward a graduated loading program to ensure you can return to your chosen activity without pain.

If you or anybody you know is suffering from foot pain, why not give us a call today or book online. We are happy to help and love seeing our clients achieve their goals.

Article Written by Matt Beavis