What is it?
Painful condition of the sole of the foot. Caused by strain or inflammation of a fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bones to toes, called the plantar fascia.
Common, affecting approximately 1 in 10 adults.
More common in people who have occupations that involve standing a lot on a hard surface for long periods of time.
Commonest complaint is pain on the sole of the foot around the heel when the foot first touches the ground when getting out of bed in the morning.
May settle with activity and movement and is then worse again at the end of the day.
May be tender to press on the underside of the heel.
Treatment
- Simple painkillers
- Adjust work patterns if possible
- Supportive footwear
- Exercises for stretching and rolling the plantar fascia
- Put a golf ball under the sole of your foot and roll it up and down a few times a day
- Toe curls grabbing the towel on the floor
- Stand on the bottom step of a staircase with your heels off the step. Stand up and down on your tip-toes 10 times 2-3 times a day.
- Weight loss
- Physiotherapy may be needed if severe