Heel Pain / Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain (plantar fasciitis / fasciosis) is a condition that is often caused by breakdown and / or inflammation of the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia attaches to the bottom of the heel and runs along the arch of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is often mistakenly described as a heel spur.
Symptoms:
- Pain under heel or inside border of the heel (not at the back of the heel).
- Pain sometimes is described as feeling like a stone bruise.
- Pain often present when getting out of bed in the morning or when getting up from rest.
Causes:
The most common reason for the heel pain is breakdown of the long band of tissue called the plantar fascia. Sometimes this can be caused by sudden tearing from injury but most often it is caused by a gradual breakdown of the tissue over time that fails to heal sufficiently.
Treatment Options:
Whilst plantar fascia pain can go away on its own, it often takes a long time to do so. Treatment in the early stages can save a lot of time and unnecessary pain. Treatment can be as simple as activity modification, home based exercises, changes in footwear or may require modalities such as cold laser therapy or orthoses.
