The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that runs along the sole of the foot from the heel to the toes. It helps to support the arch of the foot.
The plantar fascia can become inflamed. When this happens it is known as plantar fasciitis.
Being overweight, having shoes with poor support, spending a lot of time on your feet and structural issues such as flat feet of high arches can contribute to plantar fasciitis.
As chiropractors we work on the whole of your musculoskeletal system, not just the back! We often deal with problems in the extremities and find that if there is a problem in one part of the body it can affect the way you walk or move which can have a knock on effect on other parts of the body.
We typically aim to treat you as a whole person, and are trained to work out where the original complaint is and look to get your whole self working optimally. Once we work out what is causing the pain and why before we can recommend any particular treatment strategy and plan. We individually tailor a treatment plan according to your needs, age, physical and general health. Typically, treatment may include a range of therapeutic interventions including, but not limited to manipulation, mobilisation, massage and rehabilitative exercises.
Wearing well fitting, supportive footwear is critical in the prevention or treatment of plantar fasciitis. It is important to replace your trainers regularly, particularly if you are running longer distances. The age of shoes as well as the miles they have done should be taken into account when deciding if the time is right to replace them. Losing weight can help too, it might be beneficial to concentrate on exercises which don’t put too much pressure o the plantar fascia, such as swimming or cycling, if it has been a problem in the past.
