Plantar Fasciitis Highgate
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Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Highgate
A frequent cause of heel pain, plantar fasciitis is linked to running and excess weight, though it can impact people with various activity levels.
We often see patients from Highgate with plantar fasciitis at SA Running Injury Clinic and treat patients at our two clinics in Eastwood and North Adelaide.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis occurs when the thick band of tissue, called the plantar fascia, along the bottom of your foot becomes inflamed, leading to pain.
What are the Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?
The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
- Intense pain in the feet, commonly experienced with your first steps in the morning.
- Pain in the underside of your foot.
- Chronic heel pain that affects your daily activities.
- Pain that tends to intensify following physical activity.
- Pain that worsens when you flex your foot and improve when pointing your toes down.
Causes of Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain
Plantar fasciitis is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, which may occur due to:
- Overusing your feet
- Stress on the heel bone from physical activities like running, dancing, and aerobics may result in plantar fasciitis.
- Overstretching
- A high arch in your foot
- Low arches
- Pregnancy
- Being middle aged or older
- Being overweight
- Standing for long periods or spending much time on your feet
- Tight calf muscles
- Wearing shoes that lack proper arch support or have stiff soles
Enhance your quality of life with professional plantar fasciitis treatment at SA Running Injury Clinic.
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Options
Home Treatments
People with plantar fasciitis typically start with rest, icing, and anti-inflammatory medications.
Physical Therapy
Stretching exercises for the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon through physical therapy can enhance lower leg strength and improve plantar fasciitis.
Night splints
Using a splint overnight helps maintain the plantar fascia in a lengthened position, aiding in ligament stretch.
Orthotics
Wearing custom-fitted arch supports, or orthotics, can help reduce pressure on the plantar fascia by distributing pressure more evenly across the feet.
Shock wave therapy
Shock wave therapy uses sound waves directed at the painful area to promote healing, typically when other treatments have not been effective.
Walking boot, cane, or crutches
Using a walking boot, cane, or crutches for a brief period can lessen the pressure placed on your foot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, the ligament beneath your feet, which causes pain when standing after rest or following physical activity.
Standing up or walking in the morning, standing for extended periods, or rising from sitting can trigger plantar fasciitis pain. Contributing causes include footwear, foot structure, and the surfaces you walk or run on.
Plantar fasciitis may worsen with excess body weight, as it increases pressure on the plantar fascia. Other factors include ill-fitting shoes, high-impact activities, and standing for long periods.
Plantar fasciitis can be managed by seeing a podiatrist, a healthcare professional specialising in foot care.
If left untreated, plantar fasciitis may cause you to change your walking pattern to reduce pain, potentially leading to discomfort in other areas such as your legs, knees, hips, and back. It can also result in a plantar rupture, requiring prolonged rest.
Resting, stretching, massage, and ice packs are all helpful home treatments that can quickly relieve pain. Holding an ice pack wrapped in a cloth on the affected area for 15 minutes several times a day can provide fast relief.
Plantar fasciitis can occur gradually or suddenly.
Pain from sitting or lying down can be temporarily relieved by walking, but it often returns and becomes more intense later in the day.
Plantar fasciitis typically causes the most pain in the morning, and without treatment, it can lead to prolonged discomfort that may last all day.
Plantar fasciitis typically improves within three to 12 months, depending on your activity levels and any at-home treatments you may be using.
Plantar fasciitis may heal on its own, but the process generally takes much longer without treatment.
Schedule Your Podiatry Appointment
Plantar fasciitis can cause foot pain that impacts daily life, even for those not involved in sports. If you’re experiencing pain in the bottom of your feet, it could get worse over time without treatment. Contact our team at SA Running Injury Clinic to schedule your appointment.
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Appointments at SA Running Injury Clinic can be booked online or by phone. Please be aware that we have two clinic locations.
Call SA Running Injury Clinic, North Adelaide : 8239 1022
Call SA Running Injury Clinic, Eastwood : 8357 0700
Our clinics in North Adelaide and Eastwood welcomes patents from Highgate and nearby areas.