At Absolute Health we can help manage your plantar fasciitis through various techniques, including physiotherapy, massage, chiro, naturopathy and acupuncture.

What is Plantar Fascia?

The plantar fascia is connective tissue which originates at the calcaneus (your heel) and extends towards your toes. The plantar fascia is at the bottom of your foot.

The plantar Fascia is important in the normal biomechanics of your foot. It provides support for your arch, absorbs shock as you walk or run, and gives you a bit of spring to your step.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is the result of degeneration of the collagen of the plantar fascia. People often describe heel pain as part of plantar fasciitis – because this connective tissue originates at the bottom of your heel.

How Does Plantar Fasciitis Occur?

There isn’t just one known causative factor, it can occur for several different reasons.

Here are some known risk factors though:

1. Loss of ankle dorsiflexion (bringing toes towards you)
2. Pes cavus or pes planus deformities
3. excessive foot pronation dynamically
4. High impact or weight bearing activities (running, jumping, prolonged standing)
5. Improper shoe fit
6. Elevated BMI
7. Diabetes
8. Leg Length Discrepancy
9. Tightness or weakness of calf muscles

How Does it Present?

• Tenderness on the heel, especially upon first steps of walking or after exercise
• Pain is worse with dorsiflexion (bringing toes towards you)

Some Interesting Stats about Plantar Fasciitis

• 10% of the population have plantar fasciitis, about 25% in runners
• On average the pain will last about 6 months
• About 90% of cases are treated successfully with conservative care. About 15% may require professional medical care.

What Do We Recommend?

1. Relative rest from offending activity
2. Physiotherapy or chiropractic care for manual based techniques
3. Exercise prescription (stretching and strengthening)
4. Acupuncture
5. Deep friction massage
6. Ice After activity

Managing Plantar Fasciitis at Absolute Health

As mentioned above, plantar fasciitis is a multifaceted issue, and physio, chiro, massage and naturopathy can each play roles in management. For the most part conservative treatment is enough, but if your pain is persisting or causing unmanageable pain, consider the team at Absolute Health and Wellness in Paris. We have various tools at our disposal, including shockwave therapy, orthotics and acupuncture, in addition to manual based therapies our practitioners generally use in treating their patients.