Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of arch and heel pain. It usually affects people with poor load management qualities in their feet but can also be caused by injury, lifestyle or footwear that doesn’t support the foot properly.

There are a number of plantar fasciitis treatment options, depending on the cause and severity of the condition, which usually resolve the condition in a number of weeks or months. Without proper treatment, the fascia tries to repair itself but often just becomes thickened. This reduces its function and results in chronic stress and pain on this part of the foot.

How is Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosed?

We start by taking a patient’s detailed history, focussing on what may be putting stress on the foot. We look at the shoes worn regularly and carry out an assessment of the feet and lower limb function. We examine the foot and movement patterns to get an understanding on the integrity of the structures in the area.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Any factors that place extra stress on the plantar fascia can cause or contribute to plantar fasciitis. These include:

• Acute injury – a sports or work related injury which has caused excessive strain to be placed through the base of the foot
• Excessive weight – a persistent excess of pressure caused by lifestyle factors
• A high or low arched foot – excessive pronation where the foot rolls inwards or supination (where it doesn’t roll in enough) can lead to poor foot function
• Poor footwear – shoes that are not sufficiently supportive for the activity they are worn for.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Options

We focus initially on treating the symptoms to reduce the pain and discomfort for patients, and then address the cause of the condition.

Our podiatrists will develop treatment plans depending on the cause and severity of the condition in each patient. The common aim of any treatment is to reduce the causes of stress on the feet.

• Reducing the inflammation
  • Rest – avoiding the activity that caused the pain in the first place. This may include hobbies and exercise or long periods of standing and running.
  • Medicines – applying ice and using anti-inflammatory medicines (topical or oral).

• Easing the stress on the plantar fascia 
  • Stretches and flexibility exercises – doing simple stretches before standing and to make moving easier 
  • Regular foot massage – concentrating on the arch and heel of the foot can also be effective depending on the severity of the condition.

• Corrective interventions
  • Checking your posture and walking style – correcting imbalances and gait abnormalities that may contribute to the pain
  • Supportive footwear – wearing shoes that have a cushioned heel and midsole support. We advise patients to bring a small selection of shoes to their consultation so that we can look at how wearing them changes the foot position as well as the wear patterns in the shoes. 

• Foot supports
  • Professional strapping, or a splint worn at night 
  • Orthotics (shoe insoles) to adjust the biomechanics of the feet which can help correct foot faults and cushion and support the arch during the healing process. 
  • In severe cases a Moon Boot may be recommended.

• Shockwave therapy – Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) sends high intensity acoustic waves through the tissue, stimulating blood flow and promoting the body’s natural repair response.
• Cortisone injections – where a patient requires further treatment such as this, we will them to a specialist.

Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis

Orthotics can help treat and prevent a recurrence of plantar fasciitis because they support the foot’s natural arch. This redistributes the pressure through the foot and reduces the strain on the plantar fascia. 

Following a full biomechanical, walking and plantar pressure assessment, we decide what type of orthotics are most suitable for the patient’s specific condition and problem: prefabricated or custom made orthotics.

Prefabricated Orthoses

Pre-made orthotics are more supportive and comfortable than what is available in chemists. They provide support, but are not designed specifically for a person’s individual feet.

Custom Made Orthoses

These are manufactured to specifically fit and support a person’s individual feet. We take a plaster cast or 3D scan of the feet to get an exact impression. The cast/scan is then used to make an orthosis.