Plantar Fasciitis Treatment in Guelph & Milton
Chiropodist and Foot Specialist Trina Scarrow, BSc, DCh, has been treating plantar fasciitis for over 20 years. It is the most common cause of heel pain and involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot.
Common symptoms are:
- Stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot near the heel.
- Pain when you first step out of bed in the morning.
- Pain after long periods of standing or rising from sitting.
- Pain is worse after exercising or running.
It is important to have the cause of your heel pain accurately assessed because there are many causes of heel pain. These can include: heel spurs, stress fractures, bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, nerve irritation, nerve entrapment or cysts.
As a professional Chiropodist and Foot Specialist, I am able to distinguish between all the possibilities and determine the underlying source of your heel pain. I will recommend the most effective treatment.
What is plantar fascia?
The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, from the heel to the ball of the foot. It is a non-elastic tissue that typically will not stretch.
Over-extending this tissue, as in cases of “flat feet”, or excess stress on the fascia (such as from standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time), can result in irritation and tears. When the plantar fascia becomes irritated, this results in pain and inflammation. A change of patterns can trigger plantar fasciitis to. For example, all of a sudden starting an exercise program or changing up your activity levels.
Typically the most common area of pain is at the weakest link, where the fascia inserts into the heel, but pain may occur anywhere along the length of the tissue on the bottom of the foot.
What does plantar fasciitis feel like?
The most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:
- Pain on the bottom of the heel
- Pain in the arch of the foot
- Pain that is usually worse in the morning or after rest
- Pain that increases over a period of months
People with plantar fasciitis often describe the pain as worse when they get up in the morning or after they’ve been sitting for long periods of time. Pain can vary for each person, from sharp stabbing heels to a bruised feeling.
Usually after a few minutes of getting up and moving, the pain usually gets better or may go away completely. This is because walking helps to remove the inflammation and swelling that settles in while at rest.
In more advanced cases, the pain may not go away at all but there are things you can do to try to reduce it.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
The most common cause of plantar fasciitis relates to faulty structure of the foot. For example, people who have problems with their arches, either overly flat feet or high-arched feet, are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis.
Certain activities that put increased weight and forces through the feet, such as running and jumping can also be a pre-cursor to plantar fasciitis. Wearing non-supportive footwear on hard, flat surfaces can also put abnormal strain on the plantar fascia. This is particularly evident when one’s job requires standing for long hours at a time. Carrying extra weight may also contribute to plantar fasciitis.
Treatment of plantar fasciitis?
First line treatment of plantar fasciitis begins with conservative options.
- Stretching exercises – Stretch out the calf muscles to help ease pain and promote better foot function. Tight muscles can cause extra stress on the foot.
- Wear shoes – When you walk without shoes, you put extra stress on your plantar fascia. This means wearing good supportive shoes at home as well.
- Wear good shoes – Wearing supportive shoes that have good arch support and a slightly raised heel reduces stress on the plantar fascia.
- Ice – Putting an ice pack on your heel for 20 minutes several times a day helps reduce inflammation. An even better option is rolling your foot on a frozen water bottle. This not only helps with the pain and inflammation but also helps to strengthen the small muscles of the foot that prevent your arch from collapsing.
- Padding – A gel heel insert or gel cushion in your shoe will give extra cushion and may help to take the sting out of your steps.
- Limit activities – Cut down on extended physical activities to give your heel a rest.
- Medications – Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen may be recommended to reduce pain and inflammation.
If you still have pain after several weeks, or if it went away but came back, you may likely need more intensive assessment and treatment. As a Chiropodist and Foot Specialist, I can help determine which types of treatment should be added to your treatment plan.
- Orthotics – Custom orthotics fit into your shoe to help correct the underlying structural abnormalities causing the plantar fasciitis. Often even with the best medication, exercises and physical therapies, if you do not address the root cause of the problem, the pain will keep coming back.
- Medication – When over the counter medications do not provide sufficient relief, prescription strength medications may be added to your treatment plan.
- Physical therapy – Treatments such as laser, ultrasound and shockwave therapy are often successful in alleviating stubborn symptoms.
- Corticosteroids – In some cases, corticosteroid injections are used to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
- Removable walking/air cast – A removable walking cast may be used to keep your foot immobile for a few weeks to allow it to rest and heal in severe cases.
- Night splint – Wearing a night splint allows you to maintain an extended stretch of the plantar fascia while sleeping. This may help reduce the morning pain experienced by some patients.
Do I need surgery for plantar fasciitis?
In the large majority of cases, surgery is not considered. Most people with plantar fasciitis respond well to non-surgical and conservative treatments.
Long term management of plantar fasciitis
No matter what your treatment for plantar fasciitis involves, the underlying causes that led to this condition may remain. People often forget the pain and the treatment once they feel better. But if the causes are not addressed, the pain and symptoms are almost guaranteed to recur.
It is important to continue with preventive measures for long-term treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Trina Scarrow, BSc, DCh, is a Registered Chiropodist and Foot Specialist who has been helping patients for over 20 years.
Chiropodists and Podiatrists are the only regulated health professionals who specialize in treating conditions of the foot. In Ontario, there are 600 Registered Chiropodists and only 60 Podiatrists.
Chiropodists today must complete 7 years of post-secondary education before they get their professional designation. Chiropodists do complete case management of foot problems, including assessment, treatment and ongoing care.
Chiropodist Trina Scarrow, BSc, DCh
*Picture taken before COVID-19, now full safety protocols in place including air filtration systems
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I am an experienced Foot Specialist and Registered Chiropodist with locations in Guelph and Milton.
I provide a full assessment, biomechanical exams, and gait analysis. I will be able to help address your foot discomfort with a variety of techniques including foot care treatment, custom orthotics, orthopaedic shoes, medication, laser, or physical therapy.
I can help get your feet functioning better to help you feel better. Contact me today.