The plantar fascia is the thick connective tissue that lies beneath the skin on the sole of your foot. It attaches from the heel to the base of the toes and supports the arch of your foot.
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of pain on the bottom of the heel. Repeated strain of the plantar fascia can cause tiny tears in the tissue. These can lead to pain and swelling. Plantar fasciitis most often occurs because of injuries that have happened over time. With the right treatment, pain often reduces within a few weeks. But it can take a lot longer for the pain to go away completely.
Common causes of plantar fasciitis
It is not always clear why plantar fasciitis occurs and why it often persists, but you are more at risk if you
- recently started exercising on hard surfaces
- rapidly increased the amount of exercise you are doing
- started wearing shoes with poor support or cushioning
- have tight calf muscles
- overstrained the sole of your foot
- are overweight
- mechanical changes through you spine and pelvis
What can I do if my plantar fasciitis persists?
Often, modifying your activities, changing shoes, icing, stretching and strengthening your foot and calf can help reduce pain and swelling. However, if you’ve been struggling with plantar fasciitis for over 3 months and your pain is still persisting, it would be worth considering shockwave therapy.
Shockwave therapy is the best non-invasive treatment option for chronic plantar fasciitis when other treatment options have failed. It is safe, has minimal side effects and is highly effective, with most people seeing large reductions in pain within 3-5 sessions.
How does shockwave therapy work?
A hand-held device is moved over a conductive gel on the skin to send mechanical pressure pulses, known as shockwaves, to the plantar fascia. It kickstarts a healing reaction that has otherwise stalled and offers pain relief so that you can get back to your normal physical activities, which will ultimately make your plantar fascia resilient to future demands.
‘THE PAIN IS COMPLETELY GONE’
‘I had so much pain I could hardly walk. The doctor told me that I had Plantar fasciitis and that it would heal on its own. After six months it was still not better and got a tip about shockwave treatment. Already after the first treatment I noticed a difference and now the pain is completely gone. Yes the treatment hurts a little bit, but it’s only for a little while, not all the time like the plantar fasciitis!’
Eva Bengtsson, 42
Outcomes are improved if underlying bio-mechanical/strength issues are also assessed and corrected so this treatment is offered as part of a holistic osteopathy package with Kate.
To book in with Kate please call 01444 410944 or use the online booking at the top of this page. Kate is also happy to discuss with you whether treatment is suitable for your condition. Please contact us for more details.
Pricing:
Introductory offer is £60 for osteopathy plus Shockwave with Kate for initial consultation
Shockwave therapy comes in packs of 3 or 6 treatments as this is needed to get the complete researched results as per NICE guidelines.
Pack of 3: Special offer is £180 (save £69)
Pack of 6: Special offer is £340 (save £159)
Full pricing when introductory offer finishes:
Osteopathy plus Shockwave therapy £90 with Kate for initial consultation
Pack of 3: £249
Pack of 6: £499
Evidence for use of shockwave for plantar fasciitis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28403111
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30558080
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31213743
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27282594
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30828215
