Treatment
TREATMENT / PLANTAR FASCIITIS
Plantar Fasciitis
Whilst many Perth Chiropractors offer treatment for back pain and neck pain, the Perth Chiropractors at Harrisdale Chiropractic can also offer relief for heel pain. Whilst there are many causes for heel pain, one of the most common types of heel pain, is Plantar Fasciitis. It is considered that an irritation of the Plantar Fascia, the thick band of tissue lining the bottom of your foot, is what causes heel pain. Generally most cases of Plantar Fasciitis, the pain is worst upon waking in morning, with the first few steps being quite painful. Most people find the pain gets better after a few minutes of walking. This pain be often described as sharp or like walking on glass.
It is important to consult with the Perth Chiropractor at Harrisdale Chiropractic about treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. If your heel pain is left untreated, pain can become chronic and the time it takes to treat heel pain can be longer.
Plantar Fasciitis Causes
The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that lines the sole of your foot, just below your skin. This tissue attaches to the heel and extends to the base of each toe in your foot. The plantar fascia's main function is to support the longitudinal arch of your foot during weight bearing, absorb shock and recycle the energy. Now overtime, if the plantar fascia is overloaded with force and stress, it can result in it thickening, and becoming irritated.
As with all conditions, there are certain factors that can make this more likely to happen. Causes of Plantar Fasciitis and risk factors for Plantar Fasciitis can include:
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Sudden increases in activity or standing for long periods.
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Increased weight or BMI. This can be even more likely if you have sudden weight gain over a short period of time.
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Increasing age.
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Tightness in the calf muscles (Gastrocnemius & Soleus).
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
When Plantar Fasciitis develops there are number of signs and symptoms you can expect. Some common symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis can include:
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The first and most common is sharp pain on the bottom on your foot. Some patients may describe this as "walking on glass."
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Heel pain is generally worse in the morning, in particular with your first couple of steps.
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It can also be common for heel pain to flare up after standing for long periods of time, or even when going from sitting to standing, when you have been sat for an extended period.
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Heel pain after exercise.
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Swelling in the heel
Plantar Fasciitis Treatment
While there are many treatment options out there. They are all not equal. Below we have included a list of treatments for Plantar Fasciitis, which you may have tried.
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Taping or strapping
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Stretching
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Orthotics
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Shoe wear modification
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Massage
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Strength Exercises
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Anti-inflammatories
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Corticosteroid injection
Now if you have tried the above treatments and had no success, we may have the solution for you. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) has become the main line therapy for treating Plantar Fasciitis. ESWT is a non-invasive treatment, that applies a high energy acoustic wave to the target tissue. This mechanism aims to stimulate a biological response, which has a regenerative and tissue repairing effect. Some clinical trials have even suggested ESWT to be 80% effective in the treatment of heel pain.
Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis
The research for the utilisation of Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis is ever growing. When you have Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis for example, it is common for our Chiropractors to include soft tissue in the region, as well as joint manipulation of the foot. Utilising this approach allows to address not only the cause of your pain, but also any areas contributing to your discomfort.
When providing Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis our Chiropractors will tend to follow specific protocols for treatment, however will also endeavour to customise treatment. Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis involves treatment over a 5-7 week period, and includes treatment to the Plantar Fascia, Achilles Tendon and surround musculature.
If you would like to need if Shockwave Therapy can assist your specific condition, feel free to contact our staff at any stage!