Plantar Fasciitis
One of the most common causes of foot pain is plantar fasciitis. This is a condition in which the tendinous tissue on the sole of the foot becomes irritated. Despite the suggestion of inflammation in the name, the condition is actually considered to be degenerative- not inflammatory.
Symptoms
Although the plantar fascia extends along the whole sole, the pain of plantar fasciitis is felt just beyond the heel. This is usually an ache, but can become sharper when aggravated. Stretching the foot is typically quite irritating, making walking and climbing stairs particularly uncomfortable.
Pain after rest can be a sign of inflammation, which may be part of the reason that PF has its misleading name. It is typically painful upon waking, or soon after an aggravating activity. The pain may cause you to develop a slight limp, and the Achilles tendon often becomes quite tense while the condition is present.
Other foot conditions may be mistaken for plantar fasciitis, so your osteopath will take a detailed history to identify the most appropriate diagnosis. As cases often develop following an increase in activity, we are mindful of the possibility of fractures and other injuries resulting from the potential impact. We have some orthopaedic tests we can perform to determine the likelihood of something that might be more serious.
Risk Factors
PF is often an overuse injury, often affecting runners and other sportspeople. One source suggests that over 17% of running related injuries are plantar fasciitis.
Beyond sportspeople, the following groups are more likely to develop PF:
people in the 45-60 age range
diabetic patients
people with a high BMI
Poor fitting shoes and long periods of standing can also make the development of PF more likely. There are also some anatomical features that increase the risk, including:
heel spurs
leg length discrepancies
high arches or flat feet
Osteopathic Management
Plantar fasciitis is common, and we see it a lot in clinic. A holistic treatment plan would entail local treatment to encourage better fluid health in the affected area, alongside management for any associated features such as those mentioned above. We can also give advice for better fitting footwear, and changes you might benefit from making to your sport or exercise if applicable. It may be useful to bring your running shoes so your osteopath can see how they are wearing. If you wear insoles, please bring them along with you too.
Generally, a combination of direct massage to the foot and leg, combined with work to mobilise the joints of the foot and ankle will make up part of every treatment plan for plantar fascitiis. The condition does typically take a few months to resolve, but 90% of cases will respond well to conservative treatments such as osteopathy.
Some people find that a frozen water bottle, used as a roller under the foot can be quite relieving. We will give tailored advice to you from the first appointment to optimise your recovery.
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