Plantar fasciitis, which is one of the most common causes of heel pain, can hold you back from living an active life. Fortunately, there are solutions that can help you to feel better.
Village Media sat down with Meghan Knox, Canadian Certified Pedorthist and clinic manager of BioPed here in Guelph to learn more about what we can do when our heels are causing us pain and discomfort.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that supports the arch of your foot. When it becomes inflamed, it causes pain. Plantar fasciitis pain usually feels most intense in the centre of the heel and can cause you pain even when you are standing still.
There are a number of potential causes of plantar fasciitis and it can affect anyone. Some of the more common causes include frequently walking on hard surfaces in bare feet, spending a lot of time on your feet, incorrect or old footwear, and some types of exercises.
Treating Heel Pain
It is common for people to take the wait and see approach when they have heel pain, but according to Meghan, there are things you can do to help speed up the healing process.
“Many people assume that it’s normal pain and will try to let it go away on its own, which prolongs their discomfort,” she says. “We can help guide you in the right direction for treatment and it doesn’t always have to be custom orthotics. There are different types of home therapies and over-the-counter devices that can help as well.”
Meghan continues, “People will try out different solutions they find online, which might help temporarily, but then the pain comes back again. You don’t have to be on your own trying to figure it out, though. We can assess your biomechanics and we can recommend forms of treatment that work best for your activity level, lifestyle, job, footwear, and body type.”
Taking Care of Your Feet
Even though plantar fasciitis might not be completely avoidable, taking care of your feet can help. Good shoes with arch support and stretching are always good, especially if you have a job that requires you to stand for long periods or you work out doing weight bearing exercises.
“Good indoor footwear is important and, as we get into warmer weather, proper sandals can make a huge difference. Plantar fasciitis can come back when people start wearing flip flops in the summer,” says Meghan. “I suggest that people keep their good shoes and orthotics in their footwear rotation all year to allow the plantar fascia to stay strong.”
For more information or to book an assessment with a certified pedorthist, contact BioPed in Guelph at (519) 821-7310. BioPed is located at 102 Wyndham Street North.