Plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis, otherwise known as plantar heel pain is a condition where you experience pain on the bottom of your foot, around your heel and arch.

Plantar refers to the sole (underside) of your foot and the fascia is a band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes. The role of the plantar fascia is to support the arch of your foot and absorb the shock when you are walking,

This condition usually develops over a period of time due to prolonged irritation or inflammation, whereas incidence where you feel something ‘pop’ from a sudden activity generally are more related to tears of the plantar fascia.

It's more likely to be plantar fasciitis if:

• the pain is much worse when you start walking after sleeping or resting
• the pain feels better during exercise, but returns after resting
• it's difficult to raise your toes off the floor.

Risk factors

Even though plantar fasciitis can develop without an obvious cause, some factors can increase your risk of developing this condition. They include:

• Plantar fasciitis is most common in people between the ages of 40 and 60
• Certain types of exercise. Activities that place a lot of stress on your heel and attached tissue — such as long-distance running, ballet dancing and aerobic dance — can contribute to the onset of plantar fasciitis
• Foot mechanics. Flat feet, a high arch or even an atypical pattern of walking can affect the way weight is distributed when you're standing and can put added stress on the plantar fascia
• Excess pounds put extra stress on your plantar fascia
• Occupations that keep you on your feet. Factory workers, teachers and others who spend most of their work hours walking or standing on hard surfaces can be at increased risk of plantar fasciitis.

Treatment

Treatment typically consists of conservative measures and Physiotherapy is highly recommended to help manage and treat this condition.

Treatment typically consists of activity or load management, stretching or strengthening exercises, changes in biomechanics or footwear/insoles and pain management including pain medication, ice and rest. This is very much dependent on the factors that are contributing to the pain and will vary in an individual basis.