What can I do for my plantar fasciitis?
If you are suffering from plantar fasciitis, you are likely to experience an uncomfortable pain in the bottom of your heel or foot. This pain is associated with a worsening problem involving the tissue that connects your toes to your heel bone. Plantar fasciitis is common amongst runners, people who have flat feet or high arches, people who are overweight, or those who are on their feet a lot.
At Sky Podiatry, we have the expertise to diagnose plantar fasciitis, and provide a treatment plan to help relieve the pain and treat the cause. Thankfully, there are also treatments for plantar fasciitis that you can do at home, including:
1. Rest – it is important to keep weight off your foot until the inflammation goes down.
2. Ice – an easy way to treat plantar fasciitis is by applying ice to your heel three to four times a day for approximately 15-20 minutes at a time.
3. Pain relievers- anti-inflammatory medicine can make your foot pain feel better and can help with inflammation.
4. Stretching and exercise - your podiatrist will advise you on which strengthening exercises will work best to strengthen the body and teach it that it is stronger than what it perceives itself to be. By consistently performing these exercises, your body will realise that the ‘work’ is not going away, therefore the tissue of the plantar fascia will begin to strengthen and repair, and in due course relieving the pain.
5. Footwear – footwear is likely to be a factor causing plantar fasciitis. Your podiatrist will assess your footwear to ensure that it provides the best support, and will offer recommendations on the best footwear to invest in.
6. Custom orthotics – custom orthotics are made specifically for your feet and provide the right support that you need. They work to improve the bodies biomechanics to improve efficiency and reduce the load. It is important to remember that orthotics work best when combined with the correct footwear.
As mentioned, at Sky Podiatry, we have the expertise to diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis. If we have tried the above options, and you are still experiencing great pain, we would recommend trying adjunctive therapies such as dry needling, shock-wave therapy, corticosteroid injections, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. However, these therapies only offer a short-term relief, so it is important that we get the core down pact prior to adding additional treatments.
If you are suffering any sort of foot discomfort, and are looking for specialised treatment for plantar fasciitis, book a consultation at Sky Podiatry, and one of our skilled podiatrists will be able to help treat any issues. Call us on (03) 6732 7838 for more information.
Sky Podiatry
Shop 3/220-224 Westbury Rd, Prospect, TAS 7250
(03) 6732 7838
Google My Business Listing: https://g.co/kgs/U3f4ARa
Sky Podiatry
Target Complex, Shop 5/21 Vermont Rd, Mowbray, TAS 7248
(03) 6724 3171
Google My Business Listing: https://g.co/kgs/rAvA2kG