What Is it and How Do I Treat it?
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition affecting the foot due to inflammation of the ‘plantar fascia’ muscle – which runs directly underneath the foot. It is a common condition that affects people for many reasons. People with severe foot arch pain seek treatment for Plantar Fasciitis from healthcare professionals to manage and control the condition.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include severe heel pain, often in the morning when first getting out of bed, or standing after long rest periods. There can sometimes be intense pain along the bottom of the foot when exercising or playing sport. It can feel both like a bruise or like a stabbing pain – dull or sharp. Sometimes pain can be relieved by beginning movement (and stretching out the muscle) but often returns with continued movement.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia muscle running along the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed. The muscle can flare up due to overuse and putting stress onto the muscle through repetitious exercises like running and jumping. If you have flat feet or frequently wear shoes that don’t support the arch of your feet well enough, you may also experience the condition as the plantar fascia needs to work harder and fatigues with everyday movements. You may also be genetically predisposed by having high or low foot arches which require extra support.
What are my Plantar Fasciitis treatment options?
If you think you are experiencing plantar fasciitis, you will need to consult with a podiatrist, who will identify the issue. Once you know that it is plantar fasciitis you’re experiencing, they will be able to assist you with creating a recovery program to help you heal and recover from this painful condition.
If you are looking to have any rebates from Medicare, NDIS, TAC or Workcover – you will need to speak with your GP first to get a referral.
At-home treatments for Plantar Fasciitis
Some at-home remedies that could provide you with relief include:
- Stretching – perform foot and calf massages can help to relieve the pressure and stretch out the muscle.
- Foot massage –rolling your foot on a tennis ball or golf ball can help relieve the pain. A frozen drink bottle is also a nice way to cool the pain.
- Rest – Try to keep off your feet to give the inflammation time to go down.
- Ice Packs – Use ice packs to relieve the inflammation at intervals recommended by your GP or podiatrist.
- Anti-inflammatory medication – Over the counter medication such as ibuprofen can help to reduce the pain caused by plantar fasciitis.
Once you speak with a podiatrist, they may also recommend new shoes or orthotics to assist with reducing the pain and inflammation to ensure you can move more comfortably.
How long does Plantar Fasciitis last with treatment?
The length of time someone may suffer with Plantar Fasciitis will vary, depending on how quickly they seek treatment and what is causing the initial foot pain. It may take up to a few months to significantly reduce the pain with an action plan in place – and some may see results quicker than others.
Who is likely to get plantar fasciitis?
- People who are more susceptible to this painful foot condition are people who:
- Frequently wear flat shoes and those with little or no support for the foot arch
- People with naturally low or high foot arches, or tight achilles muscles
- People who are overweight and obese – causing extra pressure on the foot
- People involved in high aerobic exercises or that run frequently (often on uneven or hard surfaces)
- Those working on their feet on hard surfaces all day (Nurses, teachers, warehouse workers etc.)
It is more common in adults between the ages of 40 and 60 but may affect people of all ages and genders at any point in their life.
If you think you may be experiencing plantar fasciitis, give us a call at North Dandenong clinic to book in an appointment with one of the General Practitioners. They will provide you with a referral to the recommended podiatry partner.
Call (03) 9793 5395 to Book an Appointment
