Plantar Fasciitis – Pain In The Heel!

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a foot pain condition and a term given for the painful and inflamed flat, fibrous band of tissue (also known as the plantar fascia or plantar aponeurosis) that connects your heel bone to your toes. The fascia acts as a shock absorber and supports the arch of the foot. With plantar fasciitis, there is an excessive strain placed on the fascia. This excessive strain causes tiny tears in the plantar fascia exceeding the body’s capacity to recover, resulting in inflammation. In turn, this causes weakness, irritation, swelling and pain along the plantar fascia, especially in weight-bearing activities.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is likely to happen with the following:

• Faulty Windlass Mechanism: The windlass mechanism describes how the plantar fascia supports the foot during weight-bearing activities. A ‘windlass’ is the tightening of a rope or cable. The plantar fascia simulates a cable attached to the calcaneus (heel bone) and the metatarsophalangeal (toe) joints. Dorsiflexion (foot up towards the shin) during the push-off phase of gait causes the plantar fascia to shorten as the winding of the plantar fascia shortens the distance between the calcaneus (heel bone) and metatarsals helping to elevate the arch. When there is faulty biomechanics in the foot, the effective use of the windlass mechanism is inhibited and this increases the strain on the plantar fascia.
• Excessive foot pronation: Excessive pronation or inward rolling of the foot also inhibits efficient use of the windlass mechanism. This decreases shock absorption through the plantar fascia which in turn increases the tension on the plantar fascia.
• Tight calf muscles: Having tight calf muscles can cause excessive foot pronation contributing to excessive foot mobility which increases the level of stresses on the plantar fascia.
• High arched foot: A high arched foot lacks the normal joint mobility which reduces the foot’s ability to absorb shock from the ground, thereby increasing the stresses on the plantar fascia.
• Ill-fitting or worn-out shoes: Wearing ill-fitting or worn-out shoes may change the foot biomechanics, causing undue strain on the plantar fascia.
• Excessive walking and running on hard surfaces: This increases the shock transmitted to the plantar fascia, increasing the strain on the plantar fascia.
• Overweight: Being overweight increases the level of stresses applied to the fascia due to the added bodyweight on the foot, increasing the strain on the plantar fascia.

What are the symptoms?

Patients with plantar fasciitis will commonly complain of pain under the heel or along the sole of the foot. It may occur on one foot or both. Pain and stiffness may be felt on the first step after sitting or lying down for too long, for example taking your first step in the morning when you first wake up.

This happens because when your foot is at rest and in a non-weight bearing position, it is in a shortened state. When you first step down on it, the fascia is put on an immediate stretch causing pain. Often, with weight-bearing activity, stiffness and pain will be noticed at the beginning but would become less or completely resolved after a few steps. This is so because, after a few steps, the plantar fascia becomes more flexible. However, your foot may hurt more as the day goes on because of the increased build-up of stresses on the fascia. It may hurt the most when you walk for a long period or after you stand for a long time.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

During the initial consultation, your physiotherapist will observe how your feet are aligned and how they work (i.e. biomechanics of the feet) during standing and walking. Your physio will also look out for any high or low arches and tight calf muscles that may potentially cause plantar fasciitis. An examination of the ankle and foot joints will be conducted to determine if there is a lack of or excessive mobility. X-rays of the heel can be also be done to rule out heel spurs (bony growth). Your physician may send you for an ultrasound scan of the fascia to see if there is any thickening and/ or swelling of the fascia in plantar fasciitis.

What is the fastest way to cure plantar fasciitis?

The fastest way to alleviate plantar fasciitis typically involves a combination of rest, stretching exercises, and supportive footwear. Resting the affected foot, especially by avoiding activities that exacerbate the condition, can help reduce inflammation. Regularly performing gentle calf and plantar fascia stretches can improve flexibility and relieve tension in the affected area. Supportive shoes with proper arch support and cushioning can also provide relief by reducing strain on the plantar fascia. Additionally, over-the-counter or custom orthotic inserts may aid in distributing pressure more evenly across the foot. In some cases, a healthcare professional may recommend anti-inflammatory medications or physical therapy to accelerate the healing process. However, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice and treatment options tailored to your specific condition.

What are some of the physiotherapy treatment options?

Several conservative physiotherapy treatment options are available for patients with plantar fasciitis and include the following:

• Rest: Reduce the activities that cause you pain. Minimise walking or running on hard surfaces.
• Ice: Apply ice on the affected region that is swollen and painful for about 15 minutes. You can repeat this 2-3 times daily.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs: Taking anti-inflammatories may help to settle the inflammation and curb the pain.
• Injections: Steroid (cortisone) injections can be given to help reduce inflammation if the pain remains despite other measures. It may help to relieve the pain in some people but does not always cure the problem.
• Exercises: Stretch your calves or your plantar fascia and do strengthening exercises for the intrinsic muscles of the foot. It is important to strengthen the intrinsic muscles so the longitudinal arches of the foot will be stiffened during gait. Thus reducing excessive stresses on the plantar fascia.
• Proper footwear: Wear shoes with thicker, well-cushioned midsoles and heels and those with good arch supports. Avoid old or worn-out shoes that may not give a good cushion to the heel.
• Orthotics: Use orthotics to correct biomechanical faults in the foot during weight-bearing activities.
• Night splints: A special splint may be worn overnight to keep the calves and plantar fascia slightly stretched. This prevents the tightening up of the plantar fascia overnight.

For cases that do not respond to conservative management, a surgical procedure called plantar fasciotomy can be considered. The success rate of the procedure is about 70 90% in patients with plantar fasciitis. However, potential risk factors are involved. The risks include nerve injury, infection, rupture of the plantar fascia and failure of any improvement of the condition.

Seek Physiotherapy Treatment for Effective Relief

If you are experience foot discomfort and think that you may have plantar fasciitis – speak to our team of physiotherapists so that we can help to identify the root cause of your pain. Core Concepts is a Physiotherapy Clinic based in Singapore with a team of experienced and well trained specialists that are able to help effectively resolve your foot pain. Book an appointment with us today!