Port Macquarie NSW 2444
Does Plantar Fasciitis Have You Limping?
Does this sound like you?
Before stepping out of bed in the morning, your first thought is “I hope I don't have heel pain today”. You step out of bed and right away your concerns have become a reality once again. The pain in your heel has returned!
As you begin to limp around the house the pain decreases and your limp transform into a shuffle. After a few more slow laps around the heel pain has settled. You sit down to check your phone and forget about the pain. When you stand up a few minutes later to get ready for the day, the heel pain has returned and so has your limp!
If this sounds like you, you might be suffering from a type of heel pain called Plantar Fasciitis.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis heel pain is one of the most causes of foot pain. It develops when the plantar fascia a thick fibrous band that originates in the heel and travels across the sole of the foot to the toes, develops micro-tearing and becomes inflamed.
The plantar fascia is an integral component of the foot. It functions as an arch stabilizer, shock absorber and aids in properly distributing your body weight along your foot when you are walking.
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
- Heel pain that develops gradually over time
- Heel pain that is worse with the first few steps in the morning
- Heel pain that is better with movement
- Heel pain that is worse after inactivity
Plantar Fasciitis Risk Factors
- Muscle imbalances and compensations
- Weakness in the glute (buttock) muscles, tension in the calf muscles and poor ankle range of motion can all be risk factors.
- Occupation
- Employment that requires walking or standing on hard floor surfaces for long periods.
- Obesity
- Carrying those extra kilos puts the bottoms of feet under extra stretch and strain.
- Activity
- Plantar fasciitis can be considered an overuse injury in runners, dancers and other athletic types.
Plantar Fasciits Treatment
At Poke Acupuncture we have a very systematic assessment and treatment approach to plantar fasciitis. Therapy begins with a thorough orthopedic assessment where muscle imbalances, weakness and compensations are identified and a treatment plan is established.
Enquire today for to find out how we can help or to learn about our free 15 minute assessment.
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Ryan Samuels
Registered Acupuncturist & Chinese Herbalist
References
Dutton, Mark, Dutton’s Orthopaedic Examination, Evaluation and Intervention (McGraw-Hill Companies, 3rd ed, 2012)
McDonald J, Janz S. The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review (Revised edition). © Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd, 2017: http://www.acupuncture.org.au.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, An International Journal of Comparative Medicine East and West. Efficacy of Electro-Acupuncture in Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Wipoo Kumnerddee and Nitsara Pattapong. Volume 40, Issue 06, 2012
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