When you do too much weightlifting or involve yourself in activities that require heavy lifting, you may compromise your heel and eventually feel pain in that area. This type of pain due to weight-bearing-related activities is called plantar fasciopathy or fasciitis, commonly known as plantar heel pain.
The strong band of connective tissue that holds and supports your foot's structure is called the plantar fascia, which then connects to the heel bone (calcaneum) and eventually links to the toes. But when there is irritation in the area and if it experiences an overload, plantar fasciopathy occurs.
Plantar heel pain happens to both active and less-active people and is more common in overweight people. To deal with this, many patients get physiotherapy in Brisbane to help ease the pain and discomfort and learn ways to prevent this from reoccurring.
In this article, we'll share everything you need to know about plantar fasciopathy, its causes, symptoms and how physiotherapy can help you deal with this condition. Let's get to it!
A common misconception about plantar fasciopathy is that it’s caused by inflammation. However, that's not the case because the pain felt in the heel is often worse in the morning after prolonged rest, when getting out of bed and taking a few steps. Those who experience this are about 40 to 60 years old and this could affect both feet.
Plantar fasciopathy is a complex condition caused by various factors, such as increased force transmission to the heel, sharp changes in load during training or physical activity and sudden heavy lifting after being inactive.
Besides that, having a high body mass index is often linked to this condition as well. This is because there is an increase in fat cells in the blood and connective tissue, giving you excessive load on the plantar fascia.
If you're experiencing pain under your heel, it's best to visit your physiotherapist or podiatrist immediately to get a proper diagnosis. Once they've done various tests and assessments and have diagnosed that you have plantar fasciopathy, they will recommend the right treatment type.
However, you should know that heel spurs are not associated with pain or plantar fasciopathy. This is why it's recommended to have your heel examined by medical professionals to understand what you're dealing with.
Based on your assessment, your physiotherapist may recommend the following physiotherapy treatments:
Prolonged or complete rest won't resolve your heel pain issues. Instead, your physiotherapist will identify overloading factors and manage the load you're carrying to see what works best with you.
Strength exercises for the foot and calf muscles improve your foot's load tolerance. To do this, your physiotherapist may need to challenge your foot's structure by giving you enough load alongside a strength workout program. Besides that, strength training can provide you with better and long-term results.
Some physiotherapists will recommend taping the foot to decrease pain and offer support to relieve symptoms. In some cases, generic orthotic devices can be inserted in your shoe to give you extra support while going about your daily activities.
The great thing about physiotherapy is that you can do some of your treatments in the comforts of your home, provided they are recommended by your physiotherapist and your programs are designed to best fit the conditions of your heel.
You should know that each body structure is different and the recovery period may vary from person to person, but generally, it may take up to 6 months before the symptoms subside.
With the correct diagnosis, appropriate management and treatments, and with the help of your physiotherapist, you'll be able to manage and recover from plantar fasciopathy with ease and comfort. By being diligent with your treatments and getting regular physiotherapy in Brisbane, you'll be able to fully recover from plantar fasciopathy in no time.
Anytime Physio is a family-owned physiotherapy clinic that offers cost-effective physiotherapy treatments, remedial massages and pilates services. Our staff is composed of experts who are committed to delivering rehabilitation plans, treatment techniques and prescriptions tailored for each patient. If you're looking to get physiotherapy in Brisbane, book an appointment with us today!