What is Plantar Fasciitis?

The condition plantar fasciitis causes heel pain. Although it can affect people of all ages and abilities, it is more common among runners and people who spend most of their time on their feet.

Plantar fascia plays a crucial role in normal biomechanics of the foot, the plantar fascia plays an important role. Fascia itself provides support for the arch, as well as shock absorption.

Causes of Plantar fasciitis:

  • Repetitive strain,
  • Trauma,

Risk factors include:

  • Loss of ankle dorsiflexion,
  • Obesity,
  • Pes cavus OR pes planus deformities,
  • Excessive foot pronation,
  • prolonged standing, running, and other weight-bearing activities, 
  • Improper shoe fit,
  • Diabetes Mellitus,
  • Leg length discrepancy,
  • The tightness and/or weakness of Gastrocnemius, Soleus, Tendoachilles tendon.

CLinical Feature:

  • Heel pain, generally with the first few steps in the morning or after long periods of sitting or non-weight-bearing,
  • Limited dorsiflexion and tight Achilles tendon,
  • Tenderness along the antero-medial of the heel,
  • Also, pain is aggravated by walking barefoot, climbing stairs, or toe walking.

Plantar fasciitis can be disabling if not appropriately treated.

Physiotherapy Management of Plantar fasciitis:

  • Ice after activity,
  • Deep friction massage of the arch and insertion,
    • With one foot resting on a frozen water bottle or small ball, sit in a chair or stand up. Roll the ball or water bottle gently under your foot forward and backward. Start at just below the ball of your foot and end just before your heel. Do this 2 sets of 10 times for each foot.
  • Shoe inserts or orthotics and night splints,
  • Strengthening exercises,
    • Heel raise on steps.
    • Floor sitting ankle inversion with Theraband: with your legs straight out in front of you, sit upright. While holding the end of the resistance band in your hand. cross your left leg over your right leg with a resistance band around your upper foot and loop around the bottom of your lower foot. Slowly move your upper foot away from the lower foot, rotate your ankle inward, and slowly return to the initial position. Do this every day for two sets of 10 repetitions.
    • Seated toe towel pull,
  • Stretching of plantar fascia, Achilles' tendon, gastrocnemius, and soleus,
    • Seated plantar fascia stretch: Hold your ankle with one hand and pull your toes backward with the other until you feel a stretch in the bottom of your foot. Maintain this position for 20 seconds then repeat three times.
    • Calf stretching.
  • Extracorporeal Shock wave therapy,
  • Combo therapy,
  • Manual therapy
    • Mobilization and manipulation.
  • Kinesio taping,
  • The physiotherapist also do:
    • Correction of training errors,
    • Load management,
    • Hip/core strength and control.