The most common cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis is the thickening of the plantar fascia – the band of tissue that runs underneath the sole of the foot, from the heel bone to the other bones of the foot. This usually occurs over many years, but could also materialise following an injury.
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Symptoms
- The bottom of the foot becomes painful, sore, and tender to touch
- Pain is usually worse first thing in the morning or after a period of inactivity (this is known as ‘first-step pain’)
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Causes
An injury to the plantar fascia can occur while undertaking a physical activity such as running or dancing. This can occur if the foot lands on a sharp object – an injury which can bruise the tissue.
Plantar fasciitis may also occur over a longer period of time. A job or other activity where being on the feet is consistently required can lead to an increased risk of tissue damage.
Being overweight can put excessive stress on the heel. This can cause micro tears to develop inside the tissue, which then causes it to thicken causing the pain.
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Treatments Non-Surgical
Plantar fasciitis is usually effectively treated in under a year.
Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate (RICE) is usually a good starting point. Calf stretching exercises will also be prescribed.
Heel pads can cushion the painful heel, while orthotics can address specific imbalances. Steroid injections can also be effective in reducing pain.
A relatively new treatment, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (EST) is a non-invasive treatment that delivers high-energy sound waves to stimulate and speed up the healing process.
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Treatments Surgical
Surgery is only considered as a last resort, and in most cases is not required.
Plantar fascia release – Part of the plantar fascia ligament is cut, releasing tension on the ligament and relieving inflammation.
Find out more about how we can help treat Heel Pain
To find out more about how we can help treat Heel Pain or for more information about Total Foot Surgery, contact us on 07449419401 or use our online contact form.