Plantar Faciitis - Medtick

Plantar Faciitis

What is it?

The plantar fascia is a tissue that runs down to the sole of your foot and connects the heel bone to the other bones on your feet.

  • It is this tissue that takes the shock of your foot against the ground.
  • If this tissue tears or becomes inflamed or thickened it causes intense pain when the heel is used.
  • It normally occurs when one gets first thing out of bed or after an activity where one is on their feet all day.

Diagnosis Tests

Consider:


Surgery or no Surgery?

  • Without surgery, plantar fasciitis can take between 6-18 months to heal fully, some may have flare ups during this time, most do not have surgery if they follow the exercise and treatments available, surgery should only be considered if the condition does not heel.
  • Patients usually take around 6-12 weeks after surgery to regain basic functionality.
    • Physical therapy will help with improving the strength and flexibility for the first 4 weeks.

Cause

Syndromes

Symptoms

  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Joint stiffness and pain?
  • Sharp intense pain normally at morning or on feet all day?
  • Normally one heel affected, pain is at front of the heel (one –third of people affected by both feet)?
  • Pain reduced when using feet?
  • Leg pain and/or leg aching which comes and goes?
  • Difficulty body and/or  legs and/or lack of stamina and/or walking difficulties?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition can also cause:


General Tips

  • Rest (staying off your feet) and raise your foot on a stool when you can.
  • Put an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) in a towel on the painful area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours and/or three to four times daily.
  • Wear wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole
  • Use products to help relive the foot pain:
    • Roll your feet with a tennis ball or a cold water bottle.
    • Soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes
    • Dry Cupping-  positioning a cup on the skin and creating a vacuum to apply negative pressure that increases blood flow to the area, which reduces pain and breaks up adhesions
    • Toe Separators
    • Sock Splints at Night- Night splints are another treatment that can help stretch your calf and the arch of your foot.
      • Night splints are a type of brace that holds your foot in a flexed position and lengthens the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon overnight.
      • This can prevent morning pain and stiffness
      • Massage the bottom of your foot across the width of the plantar fascia before getting out of bed.
    • Orthotics supports and/or arch supports / and/or Boot cast (during the day)-  helps by alleviating some of the pain by distributing pressure, and they can prevent further damage to the plantar fascia.
    • Try TENs Therapy
    • Try essential oils (dilute your essential oil with a carrier oil, like coconut oil, before using it for massage. You can also inhale the steam from the essential oil mixed with hot water)
      • lavender essential oil
      • lemongrass essential oil
      • eucalyptus oil
      • rose essential oil
    • Take paracetamol (if suitable)
    • Do not take ibuprofen for the first 48 hours  (it slows down the healing process)
    • Do not walk or stand for long periods
    • Do not wear high heels or tight pointy shoes
    • Do not wear flip-flops or backless slippers
    • Try not to walk barefoot on hard surfaces-  Always wear a quality sandals, athletic shoes, or any other comfortable shoes with good arch supports will work.even if it is just to go to the bathroom.
    • Stabilising your foot with tape (Zinc oxide tape).

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Plantar Faciitis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

Diet, Exercise and Body Manipulations

Plantar Fasciitis Exercises