Plantar Fasciitis

Some studies suggest that around 10% of the population, whether athletic or sedentary, may suffer from this condition at some point in their lives, due to its multifactorial origin.

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is the band of elastic tissue that connects the calcaneus (heel) to the toes, forming the arch of the foot. When this tissue becomes inflamed and we feel pain, plantar fasciitis occurs.

It is such a frequent injury that between 12 and 15% of visits to the doctor or physiotherapist are for the treatment of this condition.

It is certainly important to seek treatment as early as possible: it can become chronic if symptoms go untreated for more than a year, triggering problems in the knees, hips and back due to changes in gait.

What are its symptoms?

The most common symptom is pain and stiffness in the sole of the foot. This pain is sharpest first thing in the morning, with the first steps of the day, due to the morning stiffness of the fascia, or when we start moving after a period of rest.

Other symptoms may also appear, such as a burning sensation, swelling of the sole of the foot or pain when playing sport, walking or climbing stairs.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

As noted at the beginning, plantar fasciitis has a multifactorial origin: it develops without a specific reason. However, there are certain risk factors, detailed below:

• Doing repetitive impact activities on hard surfaces. That is why it is quite a frequent condition among athletes who practise high-impact sports such as running, football, CrossFit, padel, etc.
• Wearing inappropriate footwear. From trainers with poor arch support or unpadded soles when doing sport, to sandals or flip-flops with no grip and thin soles during the summer months to beat the heat. Special mention goes to the continued use of high-heeled shoes, which shortens the muscles at the back of the leg.
• Obesity or excess weight
• Shortened muscles at the back of the lower limbs.
• Problems with the plantar arch, flat feet or excessive forefoot pronation
• Tension in the posterior muscles (calves and soleus)

How can it be treated?

The usual treatment in the early stages, from a physiotherapy perspective, is a combination of different treatments aimed at reducing inflammation in the acute pain phase, with stretching to relieve tension in the area, massage therapy, dry needling, exercises to strengthen all the muscles involved, cryotherapy and Kinesio taping.

To assess the state of the injury we use an ultrasound scanner and, depending on the stage of the condition, other advanced physiotherapy techniques may be effective, such as shockwave therapy, intratissue percutaneous electrolysis (EPI®) and INDIBA®.

Once this acute phase is over, and to avoid a relapse after recovery, we must change our habits and seek advice on choosing the right footwear for each activity, having a gait analysis and, if overweight, reviewing our diet.

Listen to your body and don't let injury stop you. At Akro you can count on the guidance of professionals for these specific treatments so you can get back to your sport and your daily life. Don't hesitate to book your assessment appointment and we will look at your case 🙂