Plantar Fasciitis – A Natural Treatment & Approach

Plantar Fasciitis Treated Naturally

There is a natural treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. This condition can be treated naturally without orthotics. It is the most common cause of HEEL PAIN. The plantar fascia is band (ligament) that connects from your heel bone to all your toes. It acts like a tie rope, holding the arch of your foot. If the plantar fascia gets strained, it eventually gets weak, swollen and inflamed. The swelling and inflammation causes pressure on the nerves which results in pain when weightbearing.

Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the ligament that supports your arch. Repeated strain causes micro-tears in the ligament which lead to swelling and pain. Strain on the plantar fascia can occurs if:

Your foot and leg joints are mis-aligned (subluxed). This is commonly seen if feet that roll in too much when walking or running (excessive pronation)

• People who have flat feet or high arches
• You have tight calf muscles or Achilles tendons
• You stand, walk or run for prolonged periods of time on hard surfaces
• Your footwear does not fit well (too lose or to tight) or are worn out
• You are overweight

Typically people will experience pain on weightbearing after a period of rest i.e: when they get out of bed or after prolong sitting. Initially the pain will subside after a few steps thinking the pain will go away but unfortunately it can become progressively worse till the pain is present throughout the entire day.

If you consult your GP, they may decide to X-ray your foot to look for a heel spur. This spur is a bones reaction to strain placed on the plantar fascia but is not the cause of the pain. However as mentioned above it is the swelling / inflammation which causes pressure on the nerves that result in pain.

To ultimately treat plantar fasciitis one needs to correct the underlying causes and mechanics.

Relief may be provided by doing:

• Ankle bends i.e: flexing your foot back and forth several times before getting out of bed. This helps pump the fluid away before placing the foot to the ground.
• Calf stretches against a wall or off a step, morning, lunch time and evening. The importance of having flexible calves is important to take the stretch off the arch when walking.
• Looking at training principles if you are doing too much too soon then consider cutting back on activities.
• Ice massage – fill a plastic bottle with water and freeze it. Roll it under your arch 5 minutes on and 2 minutes off (3-4 times) at the end of the day. This will reduce the inflammation which can reduce your pain.
• Heat cream massage such as Fisocream, in the morning.
• Supportive footwear and even a shoe with a slightly elevated heel may take the pressure off the plantar fascia.
• Professional strapping or FS6 compression sock.
• Night splints to keep the calf and arch in a stretched position
• Appropriate foot orthoses may provide relief but in some cases may aggravate the problem as it may be pressing into the heel or plantar fascia
• Things like anti-inflammatory, cortisone injections, red blood cell injection have side effects and provide short term relief. These are usually left as a last resort.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment – No Orthotics, No Surgery

While the above strategies can be helpful, addressing the cause of the problem is of primary importance. And that is what we specialise here at the Foot Posture Centre. After a thorough assessment we identify which bones are mis-aligned (sub-luxed) and through our All Natural System, correct the cause of the problem. This is done using foot mobilisation, corrective exercises, gait retraining and specific manual assisting devices.

At the Foot Posture Centre we also have the latest Extracoproal Shock Wave Therapy machine which has scientifically been proven to eliminate 80% of heel pain within 3 – 4 sessions. Equip this with our All Natural System and you’re sure your feet will thank you for having walked into the Foot Posture Centre.

Call our centre and say goodbye to plantar fasciitis pain NOW.