I didn’t have to look far for blog inspiration this month! This week, between myself, Luke and Max, we have had 9 clients with Plantar Fasciitis. I appreciate that the words ‘Plantar Fasciitis’ means very little to most people, but if you’ve ever experienced that stabbing pain in the soles of your feet and heels, you’ll know just what I’m talking about! Not only is it one of the most common causes of foot and heel pain, but it can also be seriously debilitating, impacting daily activities and quality of life. Here we will explore what is, its causes, symptoms, and how physiotherapy can play a crucial role in treatment and prevention. (And let’s just call it PF for short!)
What is PF? Our plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue running across the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel bone to your toes. If it becomes inflamed, it can result in stabbing pain, especially with the first steps in the morning or after periods of rest.
What causes PF? The exact cause isn’t always clear, but several factors can contribute to its development, including:
– Overuse: Engaging in activities that put a lot of stress on your heels and attached tissue, such as long-distance running or dancing.
– Foot Mechanics: Abnormal walking patterns, flat feet, high arches, or an unusual gait can affect how weight is distributed when you’re standing and put added stress on the plantar fascia.
– Age: PF is most common between the ages of 40 and 60.
– Obesity: Excess weight puts extra stress on the plantar fascia.
– Occupational Hazards: Jobs that require long periods of standing or walking on hard surfaces can contribute to PF.
– Changes in Footwear: Spending a lot of time in sandals or flip flops in summer, or big boots or wellies in winter, is often a trigger.
Symptoms of PF: The hallmark symptom is sharp, stabbing pain in the bottom of the foot near the heel. This pain typically:
– Occurs with the first steps after waking up or standing up after sitting for a while.
– Increases with prolonged standing.
– Flares up after exercise but not always during.
Treatment for PF: We are skilled in treating PF through a variety of effective physiotherapy and sports therapy treatment methods:
- Acupuncture and dry needling reduces inflammation, improves blood flow, stimulates healing, gives pain relief, and releases tightness in the soft tissues.
- Interferential therapy aids PF by delivering low-frequency electrical currents to the affected area. This reduces inflammation, improves blood flow, and relieves tension, promoting faster healing and pain relief.
- Therapeutic ultrasound uses sound waves to penetrate deep tissues, reducing inflammation and promoting healing by improving blood flow, accelerating tissue repair and providing relief from the sharp heel pain of PF.
- Massage reduces muscle tension, improves circulation, and releases tightness in the foot and calf muscles. This helps decrease pain, enhance flexibility, and promote healing in the plantar fascia.
- Manipulation improves foot alignment and relieves tension in the plantar fascia. Techniques such as joint mobilisation and manipulation can enhance flexibility, reduce pain, and improve foot function, aiding in the recovery and prevention of further issues.
- Kinesiology taping will support the arch and reduce strain on the plantar fascia. It alleviates pain, improves circulation, and enhances movement efficiency, which can provide immediate relief and support during activity and rehabilitation exercises.
- Stretching exercises ease tension and improve flexibility in the plantar fascia, while strengthening movements stabilise the foot and reduce strain.
As you can see, there are a huge range of treatments that we can use to treat PF. After a thorough assessment, we will decide which techniques will suit you best for optimal pain relief, faster recovery and to prevent recurrence.
So, if you or someone you know, is hobbling out of bed each morning and missing out on lovely summer walks, book online today and start your recovery with us at Byron Health.