Can Physiotherapy help heel pain?

A physiotherapist’s approach to managing plantar fasciopathy.

In our previous blog post, we explored the causes and biomechanics of plantar fasciopathy, a common condition that can lead to heel pain. Now, let’s delve into how physiotherapy can play a vital role in managing and treating this condition.

Physiotherapy for Plantar Fasciopathy

Physiotherapists can provide individualised plans to address plantar fasciopathy. Here are some key strategies they may employ:

  1. Manual Therapy:
    • Soft tissue mobilisation: This technique involves applying pressure to the plantar fascia and foot structures/ surrounding tissues to reduce tension and improve flexibility.
    • Joint mobilisation: Physiotherapists can passively move the joints of the foot and ankle to restore movement and alleviate pain.
  2. Exercise Therapy:
    • Strengthening: Strengthening the muscles in the foot and lower leg can help support the plantar fascia and reduce stress on it. Exercises targeting the calf muscles, shin muscles, and intrinsic foot muscles are often prescribed.
    • Proprioception training: Improving proprioception, or the sense of where your body is in space, can help enhance foot stability and reduce the risk of re-injury.
    • Stretching: Stretching exercises may be utilised occasionally to help manage the condition. It is unlikely to change any structural length but may assist with pain relief. 
  3. Footwear and Orthotics:
    • Proper footwear: Wearing shoes with some support and cushioning can help alleviate pressure on the plantar fascia.
    • Orthotics: Custom-made orthotics can provide additional support and correction for foot biomechanics, helping to reduce pain and improve function. We have a variety of incredible Podiatrists that we refer to for this assistance.
  4. Taping:
    • Using tape to support the role of the plantar fascia can often help alleviate symptoms. Various forms of strapping options can be useful, so if the first attempt is not helpful, another variation might be!
  5. Education and Advice:
    • Self-management strategies: Physiotherapists can provide education on self-management techniques and modifying activities to reduce pain.
    • Activity modification: Advice on how to adjust activities to avoid aggravating the plantar fascia can help prevent further pain and discomfort. Often this involves spreading out the workload for the lower limbs across the day or week rather than a high workload in one part of the week (e.g. that Saturday hike that takes half the day but you don’t do any walking throughout the week, reduce the hike and add some more walks in the week!).

Some other options that can be considered in assisting your plantar fasciopathy include a range of therapies from ultrasound to injections. Across the board, these options typically are seen to be more likely to be effective in cases of plantar fasciopathy that have tried the above conservative management choices first and seen minimal benefit. We call this “Chronic” or “Stubborn” plantar fasciopathy. 

Some options that can be considered more mainstream and are supported by more evidence are:

  • Shockwave therapy
  • Dry needling
  • Cortisone injections
  • PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections

At RHP Physiotherapy, we often consider these options if it is clear that a conservative approach is not proving helpful (i.e. you have tried for 8-12 weeks and seen minimal change).

When to See a Physiotherapist

If you’re experiencing heel pain that is persistent or interfering with your daily activities, it’s important to consult with a physiotherapist. Early intervention can help prevent the condition from worsening and improve your chances of a full recovery.

By combining these strategies, physiotherapy can be an effective approach to managing plantar fasciopathy and restoring your ability to enjoy pain-free movement.

This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciopathy.

Related Posts
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.Required fields are marked *