Unveiling the Mystery Behind Plantar Fasciitis: Understanding Its Causes and Solutions

Are you no stranger to the stabbing pain in your heel that makes those initial steps in the morning feel like a Herculean task? If so, you might be one of the millions who grapple with the discomfort of plantar fasciitis. This common foot condition can be a significant hindrance to daily activities and exercise routines, impacting the overall quality of life. Understanding its root causes is crucial not only for effective management but also for preventing its recurrence. In this article, we delve into the depths of plantar fasciitis to shed light on what triggers it and how to alleviate its symptoms.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition characterised by inflammation and pain in the thick band of tissue, the plantar fascia, that connects the heel bone to the toes. Its primary symptom is a sharp, stabbing pain in the heel, typically felt during the first steps in the morning or after prolonged periods of rest.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

1. Excessive Foot Pronation: Individuals with flat feet or high arches are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis due to the irregular weight distribution, which places undue stress on the plantar fascia.

2. Overuse or Overtraining: Engaging in high-impact activities, such as running, dancing, or aerobic exercises, without proper rest periods can strain the plantar fascia, leading to micro-tears and inflammation.

3. Improper Footwear: Wearing shoes with inadequate arch support, poor cushioning, or insufficient shock absorption can contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis. High heels, in particular, can alter the biomechanics of the foot, leading to increased tension on the plantar fascia.

4. Obesity and Weight Gain: Excess body weight places additional stress on the feet and can exacerbate the condition, making it harder for the plantar fascia to bear the body's weight.

5. Age and Inflexibility: As individuals age, the plantar fascia loses some of its elasticity, becoming less flexible and more susceptible to injury, especially without appropriate stretching or flexibility exercises.

Effective Solutions and Preventive Measures

1. Orthotic Support and Proper Footwear: Invest in well-fitted, supportive footwear that provides ample arch support and cushioning. Custom orthotics can also help distribute pressure evenly and alleviate strain on the plantar fascia.

2. Stretching and Physical Therapy: Incorporate daily stretching exercises to enhance the flexibility of the calf muscles and the plantar fascia, reducing the risk of micro-tears and subsequent inflammation.

3. Weight Management and Healthy Lifestyle: Maintain a healthy weight to minimize the pressure on the feet, reducing the strain on the plantar fascia. A balanced diet and regular exercise can contribute to weight management and overall foot health.

4. Activity Modification: Avoid overtraining and high-impact activities, or alternate them with low-impact exercises to prevent overuse injuries and allow the plantar fascia to recover adequately.

Conclusion

Plantar fasciitis can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, affecting daily activities and exercise routines. By understanding the various factors that contribute to this condition and adopting appropriate preventive measures, you can effectively manage and reduce the risk of plantar fasciitis. Maintaining a balance between proper foot care, regular exercise, and a healthy lifestyle is crucial in alleviating the discomfort associated with this common foot ailment. Remember, a proactive approach to foot health can go a long way in ensuring a pain-free and active lifestyle.

If you have any further questions or concerns about plantar fasciitis, our podiatrists can provide expert guidance and treatment options tailored to your specific needs.

Allied health room for rent in Fitzroy North

Newly opened, spacious room for lease in a beautiful Victorian building. 

Fitzroy Foot and Ankle Clinic is an established podiatry service in Fitzroy North that has recently expanded to a new premises.  

Located in the medical hub of Fitzroy North, this room is perfect for new or established health practitioners. Fitzroy Foot and Ankle Clinic encourages passionate practitioners to work with them and establish their practice in this beautiful Victorian building. The room is ideal for allied health specialties such as physiotherapy, exercise physiology, speech pathology, occupational therapy, and psychology, as well as massage therapy, special education or paediatric specialists. The room is quite large and will be well suited to practitioners who need extra space or use equipment.

The clinic is conveniently located near several medical providers including three medical centres, osteopathy, pharmacy, and a dermatologist. The number 11 tram stops at the front of the building along with the and 250/251 bus line. Ample street parking is available close by. 

The room is filled with natural light, air-conditioning, and large mirrors. A separate waiting area and entrance are an optional feature. 

Consulting rooms are available on a fixed-term basis. Operating hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Saturday morning sessions are also available. 
 

The clinic features: 

• 1 x medium-size consulting room (approximately 5m x 5m; 22.6 square meters) 

• HICAPS, EFTPOS/credit card facility 

• Light-filled room with large mirrors 

• Empty clinic room (furnishing can be negotiated) 

• Disabled access 

• Disabled toilets 

• Ample storage space 

• Kitchen and staff toilets 

• Flexible lease options 

• Reception support and waiting area 

• Separate entrance and waiting area if desired 

• Additional exercise area with weights and gym matting 

• Kitchen including fridge and microwave 

• Autoclave 

• NBN 

• Security alarm 

The room is available as a sublease at a daily rate of $140. Please email (info@fitzpod.com.au) to express an interest or for further information.  

Can podiatrists prescribe medication in Australia?

Traditionally medical practitioners (doctors) were the only profession that prescribed medication. Over the past few years this has changed in many countries, and a range of health professionals are permitted to prescribe.

In Australia, there are several professions that can prescribe medication, including medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, dentists, optometrists and also endorsed podiatrists. So who are endorsed podiatrists?

Endorsed podiatrists

Endorsed podiatrists are podiatrists who have undertaken further postgraduate training to be 'endorsed' to prescribe medication. The training process involves undergraduate pharmacology, postgraduate case based learning, and finally, a one year period of supervised practice. There are several benefits of endorsed podiatrists to the health system, but there are also several benefits for patients, which include:

1. Continuity of care - having one health professional manage a condition can be beneficial

2. Save time - you wont need to be referred to a GP for medication

3. Save money - you wont spend extra money seeing your GP

Your GP is the central healthcare provider for you, so even though you might be prescribed medication by another health professional, your GP will be informed about your condition and if any medication has been used to manage this condition.

What medication can endorsed podiatrists prescribe?

Podiatrists can prescribe a limited list of medicines. These include:

• antibiotics for infection

• corticosteroids for topical use (such as dermatitis), and for injection (e.g. cortisone) related to certain musculoskeletal conditions.

• analgesics to manage pain

• long-acting local anaesthetics

• antihistamines

• miscellaneous medicines for conditions such as gout, fungal toenails, procedural anxiety

Fitzpod podiatrist Dr Glen Whittaker is an Endorsed Podiatrist and can manage conditions that may require prescription medication, such as injection therapy using corticosteroids. Learn more here.

My Achilles heel is, well….my Achilles heel! Here are 5 tips to help

The Achilles tendon is the critical structure joining the calf muscle in the leg, to the heel bone in the foot. It is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that is made of collagen and is capable of withstanding significant tension.

Pain or reduced function to this hard working lower leg structure can be incredibly frustrating for patients. People who are runners or people whose activity of choice involves jumping or bounding can be particularly prone to injury.

The cause of an Achilles tendon injury is often multi factorial, but almost always involves an increase in load or stress on the tendon in an undesirable manner that causes symptoms.

As podiatrists we commonly treat Achilles tendinitis in clinic, so we’ve put together 5 handy tips to assist your knowledge and understanding of a rehabilitation plan.

1. Load

Excessive tissue load and stress from an activity like running are a significant contributor to Achilles tendon symptoms. To reduce symptoms, optimising the load or stress that accumulates in the Achilles is important. Increasing the capacity of the Achilles using slow, heavy loading is a key component of rehabilitation. A graduated loading program from a podiatrist, physiotherapist or exercise physiologist is a great place to start.

2. Modifying training or activity

Working with an athlete or patient to personalise their training regime is critical. It’s important to identify the exacerbating activity (e.g. short, fast reps on the track; excessive hill running; leaving your desk job to walk up Machu Picchu) and modify the training load or stress accordingly. If this isn't addressed, the load that we talked about in point 1 cant be optimised.

3. Footwear and orthotic therapy

The shoes worn during activity, and the presence (or absence) of an orthotic device, are another consideration to optimise a plan for treatment and recovery. A podiatrist can thoroughly assess what is currently being worn and make suitable recommendations about footwear choices and also whether an orthotic device may help, may need to be modified, or may need to be removed. With shoes, the heel pitch or stack height is one example of a shoe characteristic we assess carefully.

4. Shockwave therapy

Shockwave is an effective pain modulator, although it seems more beneficial among patients with less severe and less irritable symptoms. Shockwave therapy should be considered as part of a multi-factorial management plan, and not a treatment intervention used in isolation.

5. Additionally

Massage to the lower limbs, starting at the low back and glutes, dry needling, heat or ice application depending on presenting symptoms, and professional recommendation can all contribute to the overall management of Achilles pain. Considering these variables in accordance with the patients preferences can combine to have the best outcome.

Is dry-needling for me?

Dry-needling is a treatment modality that our podiatrists use at Fitzroy Foot and Ankle Clinic.

Dry-needling is not the same as acupuncture. Acupuncture is a method used in and adopted from Traditional Chinese Medicine that focuses on the meridian system within the body.

Dry-needling uses a western model of medicine to release trigger points (tight bands) in muscle, but using the same acupuncture needles. The “dry” in dry-needling suggests there are no injectable substances being passed through the needle into the body. Dry-needling is not usually painful but it can be uncomfortable for some people.

Let’s discuss the idea of trigger-point therapy and try to understand its relationship to dry needling. A trigger-point is a hyperirritable spot, usually within a taut band of skeletal muscle. The spot can be painful on compression and may give rise to referred pain and tenderness. A 'twitch' response may be elicited when the needle contacts a trigger point, may cause slight discomfort and an unusual sensation.

What can dry needling help with?

As podiatrists, a dry-needling treatment in our clinic is localised to the lower limb and foot. Dry needling can provide excellent relief for tight calf muscles, tibialis posterior pathology, achilles tendon pathology, plantar fasciitis, peroneal pain or dysfunction, specific muscular pain in the forefoot region.

Is dry needling for everyone?

There are some situation where dry-needling may not be appropriate, but for most people, dry-needling can be an valuable part of a treatment plan. It is suitable for patients who are open to the treatment modality, and age, gender, body composition, and history of dry needling are not barriers. Patients with a severe phobia of needles would likely struggle to relax during the treatment, and so for that reason, might like to consider other treatments.

Are there any side effects?

Following treatment, the tissue that has been needled, may feel a little tender to touch. There may also be a sensation of muscle stiffness during movement. Light stretching as demonstrated by your podiatrist and increasing your intake of water are two ways to reduce symptoms post-needling. Side effects from dry-needling subside within 6-24 hours of treatment.

If you think this treatment option may benefit you, make a time to chat with one of our podiatrists. Click here to make an appointment.