Plantar Fasciitis

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a long, thin connective tissue that connects the heel to the front of your foot, It supports the arch of the foot and helps with shock absorption when stepping and running. But sometimes, too much pressure may irritate, damage or tear the tissues. This will all in tun cause inflammation at the connective tissue, which results in the heel pain and stiffness of plantar fascia.

Causes/Etiology

• Poor foot posture
• Limited ankle joint flexibility or range of motion
• Tight or weak calf muscles, feet muscles or plantar fascia
• Having an arch that is too high or too low
• Standing or running for too long
• Obesity
• Improper shoe fit

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis

• Heel pain in the morning or after rising from prolonged sitting
• Pain when touching underneath the heel
• Greater pain after exercise or activity

Management (How we can help?)

Rest or activity modification – Depending on your activity level or work schedule, our physiotherapist will listen to what you’ve been doing and discuss an appropriate activity level or rest breaks.

Massage – During the painful stages, massage would usually help relieve some of the pain that is present within the plantar fascia itself. Massage on the calf may also help with symptom relief. Self-release of the plantar fascia with a tennis-ball under the foot may also be an option.

Exercise – Depending on the condition, stretching or strengthening of certain structures may be required. Our physiotherapist will help determine which exercises are appropriate for you.

Mobilisation of stiff ankle joints – As stiff ankles may contribute to plantar fasciitis, our physiotherapist will assess and loosen up the ankle joint if they are stiff to restore proper foot mechanics.

Custom Orthotics/night splints – Footwear or insole prescription will be able to help with addressing poor foot postures. Our clinic does supply insoles and thongs with arches, please do let us know if you need any.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy – If your condition does not respond to the previously described treatments, shockwave therapy may be considered. In this treatment, high-energy sound waves is transmitted to the plantar fascia, which will produce injury that promotes neovascularization and healing. The main risk is permanent damage to the tissue if too much pressure is applied.

Plantar fasciitis Medical Device

• Orthotic insoles: These are custom or prefabricated shoe inserts designed to provide arch support, cushioning, and alignment to reduce strain on the plantar fascia.

• Night splints: These devices are worn while sleeping to keep the foot in a dorsiflexed position (toes pointed upward), which stretches the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon overnight, helping to alleviate morning pain and stiffness.

• Strapping or taping: Techniques such as low-Dye taping or Kinesio taping can provide support to the arch and reduce tension on the plantar fascia during activity.

• Plantar fasciitis socks: Compression socks or sleeves that provide targeted compression around the arch and heel, helping to reduce swelling and discomfort.

• Heel cups or cushions: These are inserts that fit into the heel of your shoe to provide additional cushioning and support, particularly useful for reducing impact during walking or standing.

• Walking boots or braces: For severe cases or when conservative treatments fail, a walking boot or brace may be prescribed to immobilize the foot and allow for rest and healing.

• Foot rollers or massage balls: These tools can be used to massage and stretch the plantar fascia, helping to relieve tightness and improve flexibility.

• Strassburg sock: A specific type of sock designed to keep the foot in a stretched position overnight, similar to a night splint.

• Achilles tendon braces: Sometimes plantar fasciitis is associated with tightness in the Achilles tendon. Braces designed to stretch and support the Achilles tendon can indirectly relieve strain on the plantar fascia.

• Taping techniques: Techniques like Low-Dye taping or Kinesio taping can provide support and alleviate symptoms by reducing tension on the plantar fascia during activity

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