Plantar Fasciopathy – What is it?

Do you experience heel pain and stiffness along the arch of your foot? You may be familiar with the term “Plantar Fasciitis”, which is now called “Plantar Fasciopathy”, but what does this condition really mean? Heel pain can be frustrating, as it tends to interfere with daily activities such as walking. With early recognition and treatment, our south Edmonton and Parkland county physiotherapists can help take that heel pain away!

What is Plantar Fasciopathy?

At the bottom of your foot, you have a thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia that spans from your heel to the ball of your foot. The plantar fascia is an important structure that helps to support the arch of your foot and encourages normal walking mechanics. When too much pressure and stress is placed on the plantar fascia, the tissues may get irritated and damaged over time. This phenomenon is common in people who participate in high impact activities, such as runners, or those who have occupations that require them to stand for long periods of time. This condition may also arise in those who are overweight – increased bodyweight will result in increased stresses placed on the plantar fascia, which may contribute to developing Plantar Fasciopathy. Other risk factors may include:

• Individuals who are between 40-60 years old
• Tight calf muscles
• Very high arch or flat feet
• Wearing shoes with poor arch supports or stiff soles
• Atypical walking pattern
• An increase or change in normal activities

 

What are common symptoms of Plantar Fasciopathy?

One of the main symptoms that people tend to experience when they have Plantar Fasciopathy is called “first-step pain”. This happens in the morning right as you wake up and take your first step out of bed. With these steps, you may report feeling pain and stiffness at the bottom of your foot near the heel. The same stiffness can also happen after standing stagnant for a prolonged period of time. When participating in exercise/activities, you may experience pain at the beginning and end; however, the pain will ease during the exercise/activity. You may also experience pain when you walk around barefoot or when wearing shoes with minimal arch support.

How can physiotherapy help with Plantar Fasciopathy?

Our Edmonton physiotherapists  can provide different treatment options to help decrease the heel pain you are experiencing. Physiotherapists can work with you to modify your daily and sporting activities to ensure you are avoiding movements that might aggravate the pain. They can also give you stretching and strengthening exercises specifically for the calf muscles, such as calf raises, as well as, self-massaging techniques, such as rolling a frozen water bottle or golf ball under your foot. It is important to gradually strengthen your muscles in order to prevent any future recurrence of the condition. Dry needling/IMS on specific leg muscles can also be effective to assist with the pain. You can read more about dry needling/IMS here! Physiotherapists can also introduce you to orthotics, which can help provide adequate arch support to prevent aggravating the plantar fascia.   At Boost Physiotherapy, our south edmonton physiotherapists and stony plain physiotherapists are ready to assist you with your injuries. There are many treatment options to be explored for Plantar Fasciitis, so be sure to talk to your physiotherapist to determine which option best suits your needs! We are thrilled to be able to offer millwoods physiotherapy and south edmonton physiotherapy for all your physio needs! If you have any further questions about Plantar Fasciopathy, book an appointment online or call us today at 587-635-5555 (South Edmonton) or 780-591-5555 (Stony Plain). Our physiotherapists will be happy to assist you in any way!