Plantar fasciitis is often referred to as ‘Heel spur syndrome’, but this is not entirely accurate. Contrary to previous beliefs, heel spurs are generally not the source of the pain. In fact, a large percentage of people over the age of 40 have heel spurs, without even knowing it. The discomfort is generally caused from the plantar fascia pulling against the heel bone, irritating the surrounding structures.

Cairns heel pain (Plantar fasciitis) is a common condition, that should be treated aggressively, as early as possible. What often starts as mild discomfort when walking first thing in the morning, can quickly snow ball into a chronic condition, which can take 12-18 months to settle down, if you don’t get appropriate early intervention. At FNQ Podiatry and Orthotics, we provide our Plantar fasciitis patients, with effective Cairns heel pain treatment and services.

• Heel pain when walking after rest or first thing in the morning, generally at the front section of the heel where it joins the arch.
• A pulling sensation that occurs through the arch with walking.
• Heel pain when standing for prolonged periods of time, particularly in poorly supported footwear. It often feels like a stone bruise.
• Chronic cases often including a burning/tingling sensation around the heel, particularly while resting the foot at night or while in bed.

Plantar Fasciitis is most commonly seen in the active middle-aged population (women > men). The most common risk factors we see include, but are not limited to, the below. If you suffer from any of these and want relief, we offer heel pain treatments Cairns at each of our clinics.

• Over-pronation (collapsed arches).
• Tight calf muscles.
• Poor footwear.
• Sudden increase or change in activity e.g. going from being sedentary to running regularly without building into it.
• Poor biomechanics e.g. poor running style.
• Previous foot or ankle injury.
• High arched feet.
• Occupational demands requiring you to stand on your feet for long periods of time.
• Weight gain.

A thorough biomechanical assessment including Cairns VALD Strength Testing, will most commonly be enough to diagnose Plantar Fasciitis. Depending on severity of symptoms, you may/may not be referred for an x-ray, ultrasound or both. If a heel spur is present it will rarely change the treatment protocols, as approximately 70% of the population live with undiagnosed spurs which are pain free. For extreme cases who do not respond to conservative treatment, an MRI will be utilized, however this is extremely rare.

The heel pain treatment Cairns options, for those with Plantar fasciitis, are largely tailored around addressing your individual risk factors. Given this, your initial consultation will involve a thorough foot and lower limb biomechanical assessment, to determine what your contributing factors are. As with most foot problems, early treatment is the best form of treatment, as this will help reduce your chances of it turning into a chronic condition. Common heel pain Cairns treatment options include:

• Padding and strapping to help off-load the plantar fascia and heel.
• Footwear alterations.
• Exercises before getting out of bed in the morning to help loosen your fascia.
• Regular calf and foot/ankle stretching protocol.
• Strengthening program to address any underlying weaknesses.
• Soft, custom orthotics to help off-load the fascia and reduce pulling against the heel.
• Shockwave therapy.
• Dry needling/massage to help loosen off tight muscles.
• Altered training load to help reduce pressure through the area for the short-term.
• Night splints to help stretch out the plantar fascia and calf muscle while you sleep.
• For severe cases, a moon boot will often be recommended for 4-6 weeks to help de-load the plantar fascia.
• Surgical referrals are rarely required as 95% of cases respond to the above conservative treatment options.

Note: Cortisone injections are rarely recommended by Podiatrists for heel pain treatment Cairns (plantar fasciitis), as they only provide short-term relief and often leave you with a more chronic case once it wears off.

As mentioned above, the earlier you seek Cairns heel pain treatment, for Plantar Fasciitis, the quicker it will get better. A lot of people think their heel pain is a stone bruise and will get better on its own. This generally results in a lack of early intervention, which leads to the symptoms quickly escalating into a chronic issue. Our clinics provide effective heel pain Cairns treatment for a range of patients. So, if you or any of your friends or family are suffering from heel pain, contact us today and we’ll get you on the road to recovery.