Plantar Fascitis
The foot is a complex anatomical structure that combines bones with muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It is designed to carry our weight, absorb shock and maintain stability when moving. This is achieved by three arches in the foot:
1. Medial longitudinal arch – runs from your big toe to your heel
2. Lateral longitudinal arch – runs from your little toe to your heel
3. Anterior transverse arch – runs from your big toe across to your little toe.
A change in any one of these arches, be that with the bony structure and/or the soft tissue can cause incorrect loading and affect the function and stability of the foot. When this occurs, it can result in increased tension in the plantar fascia, in turn causing heel and foot pain.
It is important that if you are experiencing symptoms, to ensure that you are wearing supportive footwear. This helps prevent further strain on muscles and ligaments and reduce the inflammation within the foot.
When we assess the foot, we check the range of motion and the tone in muscles and ligaments in the foot. This includes the plantar fascia and the Achilles’ tendon. Treatment can involve several different modalities, including adjusting the foot to improve restricted range of motion, dry needling of involved muscles and tendons, and stretching. For further information regarding plantar fasciitis and how we may be able to help you, please speak to Danielle.
