Plantar Fasciitis

What should you do?

If you have or suspect you have plantar fasciitis then you should seek treatment as soon as possible. The earlier this injury is treated, the more successful the outcomes. Conservative management is indicated in the form of ice, massage, stretching, footwear modification, heel cushioning and foot orthoses.

What shouldn’t you do?

You shouldn’t put up with the pain in the hope it will go away. The injury is deceptive in that it warms up and you are able to walk and run on the area. Unfortunately each time you run on it you are causing more problems. With time, the pain will not warm up and your injury is far harder to treat, and may take longer to respond to conservative treatment.

Could there be any long-term effects?

There could be long-term problems with chronic pain in the area. A heel spur can develop secondary to the plantar fasciitis. More importantly, however, the inflammation can become chronic and may require an injection of cortisone (anti-inflammatory drug), or a surgical opinion.

Management

Sports podiatry assistance is important in the diagnosis and management of plantar fasciitis. An accurate diagnosis is necessary to ensure successful management outcomes. This may include radiological examinations, either X-ray or ultrasound. It is important to rule out other possible differential diagnoses which affect this area of the heel. Once the extent of the injury is established, a treatment plan can be prescribed. The treatment involves a combination of therapies, as well as assessment and correction of biomechanical anomalies which may have caused the injury. Footwear assessment and orthoses are also important in the successful treatment of plantar fasciitis. Your Podiatrist will also be able to provide assistance in the return to activity program to prevent re-occurrence of the injury.