Plantar Fasciitis Treatment Melbourne

We treat the cause of plantar fasciitis and get results!

Do you suffer from debilitating heel pain or arch pain? If so you may be suffering from plantar fasciitis or a heel spur. Our podiatrists know the keys to successful plantar fasciitis treatment at our Melbourne podiatry clinic, even in long standing chronic cases. Our treatment focuses on the cause and not just reducing the symptoms. Our podiatrists know which treatments and orthotics work the best to get plantar fasciitis relief and our patient results speak for themselves.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a debilitating foot condition causing pain under the heel or in the arch on weightbearing or walking. It is caused by excess strain on the plantar fascia, a thick ligament band that runs along the sole from the heel to the ball of the foot. Pain is usually worse on the first step in the morning and subsides somewhat after walking. In chronic cases pain will often be localised close to the plantar fascia heel insertion and patients will often refer to this as a heel spur but plantar fasciitis is a more accurate description.

How is plantar fasciitis diagnosed?

Plantar fasciitis is easily diagnosed clinically by our Melbourne podiatrists following a thorough history and examination. X-rays are not necessary as a heel spur on x-ray makes little difference to the treatment. Interestingly some people with no heel pain can still have a heel spur on x-ray so it is not a useful diagnostic tool. A heel spur simply tells us that there is excessive strain and forces at the ligament attachment site close to the heel bone.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome and other nerve entrapments can mimic plantar fasciitis symptoms so our podiatrists will help exclude these from diagnosis. In some instances these conditions may even coexist with plantar fasciitis. For more information please see our page on other causes of heel pain.

What causes plantar fasciitis or heel spur pain?

Plantar fasciitis is caused by excessive strain on the plantar fascia, which is a thick ligament that runs under the arch on the bottom of the foot. Excessive strain and symptoms usually occur close to the plantar fascia ligament attachment site in the heel. In some cases the resultant ongoing traction of the fascia on the bony attachment can cause bone spurring, commonly referred to as a heel spur.

Common causes of plantar fasciitis include:

Plantar fasciitis treatment in Melbourne

Our podiatrists have a wealth of experience treating plantar fasciitis and heel pain. It is one of the most common conditions we treat at our Melbourne foot clinic and we know what gets results, even in chronic cases. Unlike other therapies, treatment by our podiatrists is aimed at the cause of plantar fasciitis and simply not just reducing symptoms. This treatment strategy helps to prevent plantar fasciitis from returning once it is fully healed. Patients who have had plantar fasciitis for years are often amazed at our success.

Treatment of plantar fasciitis at our Melbourne foot clinic may consist of the following:

Why cortisone injections won’t fix plantar fasciitis

Cortisone injections are often used by other health professionals to treat plantar fasciitis. At our clinic we only recommend cortisone if conservative treatment has failed and we find this is hardly ever. It is important to remember that cortisone treats only the pain associated with plantar fasciitis, it does not treat the cause. For this reason it often only provides short term pain relief benefits and symptoms are likely to return.

Orthotics can cure your plantar fasciitis and heel pain

Orthotics can help treat plantar fasciitis as they help support the foots natural arch and reduce strain on the plantar fascia. By doing this orthotics treat the cause of plantar fasciitis. In chronic cases of heel pain our podiatrists find that custom orthotics give better clinical results than prefabricated or “off the shelf” orthotics.

How custom orthotics can fix plantar fasciitis or heel spurs

Chronic plantar fasciitis usually affects a high arch foot type with a tight plantar fascia. In this foot type prefabricated orthotics with lower arches simply don’t support the plantar fascia enough. Custom orthotics can be manufactured with a high arch that closely matches the foot and this is why they produce better clinical results in plantar fasciitis treatment. An accurate custom orthotic will support a high arch foot and reduce strain on the plantar fascia. It will also aid in stretching the tight fascia whilst removing forces off the heel insertion area, allowing for healing.

Accurately prescribed custom orthotics are the key to success

Our Melbourne podiatrists see plenty of instances where custom orthotics have been poorly prescribed by other health practitioners when treating plantar fasciitis. Quite often these devices increase forces on the painful heel rather than reduce forces. At our Melbourne clinic our podiatrists are experienced in custom orthotic prescription for plantar fasciitis and know which type of devices get results. We also guarantee accuracy through our 100% orthotic comfort guarantee. Finally our podiatrists know that footwear selection, stretching and strengthening are just as important in successful plantar fasciitis treatment.

Treat your plantar fasciitis or heel spur today