The Plantar Fascia is a thick band of fibrous tissue which helps provide support to the arch of your foot. If it becomes injured it can cause pain, most commonly found around the under side of your heel.
Plantar fasciitis is generally caused by 'overuse' of the fascia, 'itis' means inflammation, so a diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis simply indicates that the fascia has become inflamed.
When the condition is at it's worst, it can be painful to walk even small distances.
The underlying cause of the condition will often come down to poor biomechanics of the lower limb and/or tight or shortened muscles (often the calves).
Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis has to be specific to the individual, however treatments may include:
- Specific stretches for shortened muscle groups
- Home exercises to correct poor biomechanics
- Massage to reduce the tension in the Fascia (and tight muscles)
- Mobilisations at home to 'stretch' the Fascia
As always for the purpose of these blog posts, I'm keeping the information fairly basic. There are other issues that can occur around the foot. If you do have any additional questions please do email me at alex(at)theringwoodclinic.co.uk
Here is an additional resource with some more information on plantar fasciitis.
