What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis (plantar heel pain) is an inflammation of plantar fascia which is a ligament connecting the heel to the toes. The plantar fascia plays an important role in supporting the medial longitudinal arch of our feet. Repetitive stress and overload on the plantar fascia may reduce its capacity, causing it to be easily irritated and inflamed.

The above image shows an inflamed (red) plantar fascia.

Clinical presentation

Typical symptoms of plantar fasciitis include heel pain radiating to the toes, severe pain and stiffness for the first few steps after getting out of bed in the morning or after a long period of rest and weight bearing activities.

Other possible causes of heel pain

• Tarsal tunnel syndrome. This is a neurologic condition in which the posterior tibial nerve is compressed as it travels through the tarsal tunnel.
• Baxter’s nerve entrapment. This is a compression of the medial calcaneal nerve which causes pain at the plantar and posterior regions.
• Heal spur syndrome (Huglund’s deformity). This is a tiny bone formation which will irritate and weaken the muscles and ligaments.
• Calcaneal stress fracture is a fracture at the calcaneus due to repetitive stress and overload.
• Posterior tibial tendonitis which is an inflammation condition occurring in the posterior tibial tendon.
• Achilles tendonitis – degenerative Achilles tendon which usually presents with pain at the posterior heel.

As there are many other possible causes for heel pain, it is important to see your podiatrist for a thorough examination. to identify the underlying cause for your heel pain. Your podiatrist will assess the best treatment options for you once the exact cause has been identified.

Treatment strategies for plantar fasciitis

• RICE (Rest, ice, compression and elevation) – Reducing activity level and applying ice pack on the affected heel for 15-20 minutes helps reduce inflammation and subsequent pain.
• Stretching exercises – Stretching and strengthening exercises such as calf muscle stretches and plantar fascia stretches will increase the capacity. of the muscles and ligament.
• Electrical therapy – Such as ultrasound and shockwave therapy. Ultrasound therapy exerts waves which can penetrate through deeper tissues to stimulate an increase in oxygenated blood flow in the area. Compared to ultrasound, shockwave therapy is more aggressive and effective treatment for recalcitrant soft tissues pathologies, including chronic plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinosis. Recent research showed that it has a high success rate of 82%.
• Orthotics  – Custom made orthotics alleviate the effects of faculty foot biomechanics and reduce the biomechanical stress acting on the plantar fascia.
• Footwear modifications – Wearing supportive shoes with good arch support reduces stress on the plantar fascia.
• NSAIDs – Such Ibuprofen and Naproxen may be recommended to reduce inflammation and pain.
• Strapping – It helps to support the foot and reduce tension on the fascia.

Have you experienced stepping on a marble? Painful, isn’t it? There is a condition of the feet called Morton’s Neuroma, which feels almost the same.

Read on to learn more about it.

What is Morton’s Neuroma?

Morton’s Neuroma is a painful health condition affecting the ball of your foot, commonly around the area between the third and fourth toes. This condition happens when the tissue surrounding the nerves that leads to the toes begin to thicken, causing a sharp and burning pain in the area.

What Causes Morton’s Neuroma?

Anything that compresses or irritates this nerve on the foot can develop into Morton’s Neuroma. One of the most common causes for it is when a person constantly wears shoes that have a tapered toe box. Wearing high-heeled shoes can also result in this condition.

Meanwhile, people with foot deformities, like flat feet, hammertoes, and bunions, also have a higher risk of developing Morton’s Neuroma.

What Are the Symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma?

People that have Morton’s Neuroma may have the following symptoms:

• Pain in the ball of the foot
• Numbing, tingling, or burning sensation
• The feeling that there is something in the ball of the foot
• That feeling where something in one’s sock or shoe is bunched together

How Can Morton’s Neuroma Be Treated?

The initial therapies to relieve a person of this condition often begins with relatively simple steps.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Changing one’s footwear by avoiding tight shoes or stop wearing high heels can result in a more comfortable feeling. The reason for this is because the foot bones can be more spread out, reducing the pressure on the nerves present there.

Putting an icepack on the affected area may also help reduce pain and swelling while using custom orthotic devices may also provide the support needed to minimize pressure.

Using oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, is often recommended to reduce the pain and inflammation in the foot for Morton’s Neuroma. Injecting cortisone or local anesthetics are also two possible options for patients here.

Surgical Treatment

Doctors may choose to recommend surgery to patients that have not responded well to the non-surgical treatments. The foot and ankle surgeon will be the one who determines the best approach for your condition.

The length of recovery is going to depend on the type of procedure that is performed. Seek advice from a medical expert now to find out the right approach for your condition.

Why Trust The Foot Pod?

If you are experiencing the symptoms of Morton’s Neuroma, don’t wait for your situation to get worse. We at The Foot Pod can help provide you with the appropriate treatment solution for your needs.

Our expert, Dr. Rachel Timmins, has an experienced team of practitioners that can provide relief for your foot pain. The Foot Pod clinic has been in operation since 2008 and has been serving satisfied clients throughout the years.

For more information or if you are looking to book an appointment, contact us at (08) 9246 7292 or send Dr. Rachel an email at drtimmins@thefootpod.com.au. See you soon!

What are orthotics?

Orthotics are a shoe insert used to treat a variety of foot and musculoskeletal issues. There are two types of orthotics:

• Off-the-shelf orthotics, usually no more than a rubber or neoprene insole, that is pre-moulded for common complaints like flat feet and RSI pain.
• Custom orthotics that are made specially to suit your feet, and used to correct biomechanical issues in feet, lower limbs and the lower back.

Why would you need custom orthotics?

Contrary to popular belief, orthotics do much more than provide arch support – however this is about the limit of what off-the-shelf orthotics can do for you. Custom orthotics on the other hand are designed to lift, cup, cushion and realign the pressures in your feet. In this way form orthotics are conservative treatment for many common feet problems:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Arthritis
• Diabetes-related sensation loss (neuropathy)
• Flat feet
• High arches
• Metatarsalgia
• Achilles tendonitis
• Hip misalignment
• Lower back pain
• Bursitis

1. Orthotics can help with feet deformities

Genetic and biomechanical deformities can cause acute pain, ongoing discomfort, and problems playing sport. Even a minor misalignment can lead to heel pain (plantar fasciitis), to weak ankles, knee injuries and stamina problems due to foot pain.

Orthotics are specially made to address these issues by realigning and rebalancing feet to minimise stress points and correct foot function.

2. Orthotics can help during pregnancy

Sudden, prolonged pressure on your feet from weight gained during pregnancy can lead to poor circulation and joint pain. Custom orthotics account for the extra weight by supporting and cushioning feet. This means:

• Better blood circulation
• Less strain on knees
• Lower back pain minimised
• Increased comfort when walking
• No need for special shoes

3. Orthotics for Back Pain

Orthotics are often prescribed for back pain – but for the wrong reasons. Here at The Foot Pod we look at how your feet roll, how the ankles and knees move, and your hip alignment, to determine the root cause of back pain.

Using a highly accurate 3D laser scanning technique we then create custom orthotics that realign foot pressure/movement. In time this lengthens out contracted muscles to evenly distribute the weight load whilst wearing them and reduce pressure at the back.

Orthotics also provide cushioning during high-intensity activity like sport, reducing the burden on your back and minimising the risk of injury or chronic pain.

Are orthotics worth the money? 

Think of custom form orthotics as a piece of equipment to help with support or sports performance. Many people are advised to get orthotics for arch support and choose the off-the-shelf option, bypassing a podiatrist appointment. This can ease cases of mild flat-footedness in the short term, but without a custom solution any major biomechanical issues are going to keep getting worse.

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Shockwave Therapy is a non-surgical and non-invasive method of pain relief and mobility improvement. Also called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy or ESWT, Shockwave Therapy is used around the world in podiatry, urology, sports medicine, physiotherapy and orthopaedics.

Here at The Foot Pod we use RPW shockwave therapy to treat plantar fasciitis, chronic heel and Achilles tendonitis. Shockwave Therapy offers several key benefits:

• Fast, effective treatment
• Minimal side effects
• Speedy recovery

How Exactly Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

RPW shockwave therapy sends high-energy radial pressure waves (RPWs) to the site of chronic pain. These acoustic waves increase blood flow, stimulate muscle repair and regeneration, and increase metabolization at the cellular level.

Shockwave therapy is a safe, effective, treatment recommended for people suffering chronic pain – even at the highest level of sport. Clinical studies and literature reviews continue to prove the effectiveness of ESWT as a treatment method for plantar fasciitis, tendon complaints and a raft of musculoskeletal issues.

What does Shockwave Therapy involve?

During RPW shockwave treatment you may experience a small amount of discomfort, but your response is measured by our experienced podiatrists to ensure you are not in pain. Because shockwave therapy creates an analgesic effect, you should experience immediate acute pain relief. The treatments also stimulate collagen production so you will benefit from increased mobility after 1 or 2 sessions.

Fast treatment

Generally we need to see you 3-6 times, about a week apart, for effective long-term pain reduction. Each session lasts around 20 minutes and most patients report a drastic pain reduction after the first treatment. Shockwave therapy is used as part of a tailored therapy pathway designed to address underlying issues in your feet.

Limited side effects

Shockwave therapy carries a much lower risk of side-effects than surgery. Depending on your level of pain, overall health and related podiatry issues there may – in very rare cases – be side effects to ESWT:

• Tolerable pain 2-4 hours after initial treatments
• Mild discomfort during treatment
• Mild bruising, swelling and/or numbness
• No response to treatment (extremely rare)

Fast recovery

RPW shockwave therapy starts to alleviate pain and restore mobility after the first session. At most you will be restricted from high-impact activity for 48 hours following each session. Your podiatrist will give more tailored advice, but in general the recovery periods following shockwave treatment are substantially shorter than surgery.

What to expect after Shockwave Therapy?

After 1-2 days you will be back on your feet with reduced pain and improved mobility. Here at The Foot Pod, we design RPW shockwave therapy plans that specifically address your pain points, to provide safe and effective pain treatment without surgery.

Contact us to learn more about Shockwave Therapy, book a shockwave therapy treatment, or speak with our team about treatment options tailored for you.

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