Plantar Fasciitis

Sometimes referred to as “policeman’s heel”, Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that causes chronic pain in the heel of the foot, and sometimes the arch.
 

Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

If you suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, your pain is likely the worst when you take your first steps out of bed in the morning.  It is usually a sharp, stabbing pain at the bottom or front of the heel bone which is most severe after long periods of inactivity (sitting, driving or sleeping).  Throughout the course of the day the pain typically diminishes, transforming into a lingering, dull ache.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is primarily caused by an abnormal pronation of the foot (usually over-pronation).  The most common contributory factors include:
  •  Age
  • Weight gain
  • Jobs that require standing or walking on hard surfaces for extended periods of time
  • Low quality, unsupportive shoes
  •  Inactivity
 

How Pain Occurs

The Plantar Fascia is a band of tissue under your foot running from your heel to your toes.  In over-pronating feet, the Plantar Fascia is excessively stretched with every step, which results in inflammation, irritation and pain where the Fascia attaches to the heel bone.  In some cases, the pain even extends into the arch of the foot.  This perpetual pulling of the Fascia at the heel bone often leads to the development of a bony growth in the heel, called a heel spur.
 
As you rest (for example, when you’re asleep), the Plantar Fascia becomes shorter and tighter.  The moment you get up, all of your body weight goes straight to your feet, forcing the Fascia to immediately stretch and lengthen which causes micro-tears in the tissue.  This is why pain is the most severe during your first few steps in the morning or after long periods of rest.
 

Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

Doctors recommend the following treatment methods:
  • Rest (avoid high impact sports, running, walking long distances and standing for long periods of time)
  • Ice (2-3 times a day for 5-10 minutes at a time)
  • Daily, targeted exercise program
  • Cortisone-steroid injections (usually performed by a GP directly into the heel bone)
 

Orthotic Insole Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis

For long-term, sustainable pain relief, you must treat the root cause of the problem: abnormal foot mechanics.  This is exactly what orthotic insoles do.
 
Footlogics orthotics were developed by Australian podiatrists and have been specifically designed to support the arches of the feet and control over-pronation.  They help minimize and release the tension on the Plantar Fascia to treat the source of the problem and allow the inflamed tissue to heal fast.  For added comfort and relief from pain, Footlogics orthotics also have a shock-absorbing heel pad that reduces the level of impact on your heel as you walk.
 

Where to Buy Footlogics Orthotics

Footlogics orthotics can be purchased at selected pharmacies, and from physiotherapists and podiatrists across Canada.  Or you can contact Footlogics directly to place an order online or over the phone.   We’ve helped thousands of people suffering from Plantar Fasciitis in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands.  To learn about people’s real life experiences with Footlogics orthotics, read comments from our customers in Australia.
 

Treatment Through Daily Exercise

Recent studies have shown that the most effective long-term treatment for Plantar Fasciitis is a combination of wearing orthotic insoles and performing a series of daily exercises.  Specific, targeted exercises lengthen and increase the flexibility of the muscles and tendons in the feet, which thereby reduces  the tension placed on the Plantar Fascia. 
 
For more information, see the section below.
   Plantar Fasciitis
 
 
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