Plantar Fasciitis is usually described as heel pain, often sharp, that can be worse in the morning when taking the first few steps of the day.
The Plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that runs along the sole of the foot. It’s main role is to support the arch of the foot, and to act as a shock absorber during walking and running. If this tissue is repeatedly overloaded, microtears can develop, leading to pain and stiffness, predominantly at the heel where it attaches.
Plantar fasciitis usually develops due to a load management problem, such as:
- A sudden increase in activity
- Poor foot biomechanics
- Stiffness in the ankle joint or surrounding joints
- Tension through surrounding muscles/tendons
- Poor footwear
Quite often the cause of the plantar fasciitis may be due from dysfunction elsewhere in the body which results in more stress being placed on the plantar fascia. This is where Osteopathy can help, as one of our main principles is to look at the body as a whole.
Osteopathic Treatment
A treatment for plantar fasciitis will likely involve:
- Gentle mobilisation of the ankle/knee/hip/spine to improve overall function
- Soft tissue techniques to reduce tension in the surrounding structures
- Advice on activity levels to reduce overloading
- Chats about footwear to ensure you have adequate support
- Exercises to improve strength and mobility
If you are struggling with persistent foot or heel pain that is affecting your daily life, then please do call or book an appointment online.
