Plantar Fasciitis & Heel pain

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

• An inflammation of the connective tissue of the bottom of the foot.
• Plantar = bottom of the foot, Fascia = dense fibrous connective tissue, Itis = inflammation
• The plantar fascia attaches to the bottom of the heel bone and fans out to the toes.
• The plantar fascia is designed to support the foot and form the arch. It has varies elasticity and is very thick.

What are some of the symptoms?

• Pain experienced under the heel and/or along the arch of the foot.
• Pain that is worse with the first steps in the morning and after prolonged sitting.
• Dull intermittent pain which can progress to sharp persistent pain.
• General stiffness felt in foot/ankle.
• Pain often described as, "a sharp needle through the bottom of the foot".

What are the causes of Plantar Fasciitis and Heel pain?

• Excessive Pronation
• Pronation is a normal movement of the foot that helps the body to absorb shock and adapt to different ground surfaces.
• In analyzing ones gait, first contact is on the heel and outside of the foot; followed by a shift of body weight continuing forward toward the arch and toes.
• If the foot is weak or tired and/or the footwear is not supportive/too supportive, then the arch can flatten more than normal, which is excessive pronation.
• Flattening of the arch (excessive pronation) places pressure on the arch and stretches the plantar fascia (which supports the arch) and can create inflammation at the attachment on the heel.
• This repetitive, excessive pronation is the main contributor to many lower extremity overuse injuries, of which plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are the most common in the foot.
• Flat, pronated feet or rigid, high arched feet may be more prone to problems.
• Poor support in the shoes being worn and/or the poor support inside the shoes can add to the stress on the foot.

How can Footpro help with Plantar Fasciitis?

Step 1 Analysis

The Plantar Fascia is the Connective tissue on the underside of the foot. It is highly susceptible to injury and pronation or lack thereof will contribute to the chance of injury of this area. Our technicians are able to observe specific gait patterns and determine the normal amount of movement which should be present through the foot, knee and hips. These areas all have a huge bearing on Fascia tensity.
Sometimes there are multiple variables in the occurrence of plantar fasciitis which is why visual observance of gait is vital. Footpro also incorporates pressure mapping of the foot to assess surface contact, timing, angle and motion of foot pressure. This will allow us to make the right decisions when it comes to shoes and custom insoles.

Step 2 Custom Insoles

Custom insoles can directly influence the tension felt underneath the foot. Over-pronation and supination can be controlled not only through shoe choice but with the construction of a custom insole. The increase in proprioception caused by the custom insole will help to give the foot awareness and maintaining correct biomechanical function through all cycles of gait. Having something supporting underneath the Fascia will immediately help to provide the right tensioning throughout the adjoining muscle groups.

Step 3 Footwear

The proper footwear will help to correctly align the foot in a more neutral position. This is done by either an increase in supportive materials or by an increase in cushioning. Making sure the calcaneal (heel) bone is in proper alignment is very important and reduces the chance of plantar fasciitis. The right shoes are the foundation from which we can create the custom insole inside the shoe to help support the soft tissue underneath the foot.