Chronic Plantar Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain, or as it is officially known as Chronic Plantar Heel Pain (CPHP), is usually a change in the nature of the tissue within the sole of your foot, attaching to your heel bone called the plantar fascia.
Plantar fasciitis may result from a variety of factors, such as overtraining, neglecting to stretch tight calf muscles, wearing unsupportive shoes or general lack of foot strength. Other factors may include fallen arches in flat feet which overloads the plantar fascia in activities such as running.
Click this link: >> Heel Pain Video <<
our Podiatrist Jeff explains more!
What does it feel like?
You may notice:
- A dull ache in front and slightly to the inside of your heel which is normally worse in the morning
- Or a sharp stabbing pain or deep ache in the arch of the foot
- The pain often gradually reduces after taking a few steps
- Feels like you are stepping on a small stone or marble
- As the condition worsens, prolonged standing and walking in general becomes painful.
How can Physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy aims to help the inflamed tissue to recover initially before introducing a progressive rehabilitation programme. The tissue reacts in a way it does giving pain because it has been overloaded. The good news is that this condition can be treated without injections or surgery!
Our physiotherapists at Pain Free Physiotherapy & Allied Health are experienced at using a holistic approach to assess the body as a whole to look for all contributing factors to your foot or heel pain.
Initially your physiotherapist will try to ease the pain by allowing the tissue to recover. This may include:
- Hands-on manual therapy
Special taping techniques
- Referral to a podiatrist for shoe inserts (orthotics)
We will also include a complementary computerised foot scan to analyse your walking posture (valued $89)!!
As the condition begins to resolve and the pain lessens, you will need to strengthen the muscle in the sole of your foot with specific home exercises. Your physiotherapist will explain and teach you how to target it correctly and what to expect with pain.
Plantar fasciitis symptoms usually improve over 3-6 months. Some instances may take longer up to 9-12 months particularly in those who perform prolonged standing or continuously aggravate the tissue.
If you are suffering from heel pain, visit your physiotherapist or podiatrist for a comprehensive assessment and become pain free!
