Relieve Your Heel Pain and Get Back on Your Feet
Our specialized treatments for plantar fasciitis will alleviate pain, improve mobility, and help you return to your daily activities pain-free.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that causes pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick, fibrous band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, becomes inflamed or damaged. The plantar fascia connects the heel bone (calcaneus) to the base of your toes, creating the arch of your foot and acting as a shock absorber to support your weight as you walk, run, or stand.
The plantar fascia serves two primary functions:
- Arch Support: The plantar fascia helps maintain the arch of the foot, preventing it from flattening completely when weight is applied.
- Shock Absorption: As you walk or run, the plantar fascia absorbs and distributes the impact across your foot, protecting other structures like bones and joints.
Where Does Plantar Fasciitis Pain Occur?
The pain associated with plantar fasciitis is usually concentrated in the heel or along the arch of the foot. It is often described as a stabbing or burning sensation that is most severe:
- First thing in the morning: After sleeping or sitting for a long time, the plantar fascia tightens. Taking those first steps after waking up stretches the tissue suddenly, leading to intense pain in the heel.
- After prolonged periods of standing or activity: Walking, running, or standing for long periods can exacerbate plantar fasciitis pain as the tissue becomes irritated from continuous stress.
Who is at Risk?
Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis, including:
- Foot Structure: People with flat feet (pes planus) or high arches (pes cavus) are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. Flat feet may overstretch the plantar fascia, while high arches can cause it to be overly tight.
- Repetitive Impact: Athletes, particularly runners, dancers, and people engaged in high-impact activities, often develop plantar fasciitis due to the repetitive stress placed on their feet.
- Weight: Excess body weight can place extra strain on the plantar fascia, increasing the likelihood of irritation and injury.
Why See a Foot & Ankle Specialist for Plantar Fasciitis?
Expert care can provide immediate relief from pain while addressing the root cause of plantar fasciitis, preventing recurrence. Our foot and ankle specialist will tailor treatment plans to your specific needs, ensuring both short-term relief and long-term recovery.
Our Approach to Plantar Fasciitis
By understanding the structure of your foot and how plantar fasciitis develops, you can take steps to protect your plantar fascia and prevent or manage the condition effectively.
Most cases of plantar fasciitis can be effectively treated without surgery. After a thorough evaluation, we’ll recommend non-invasive treatments tailored to your specific condition.
- Physical Therapy: Specific exercises and stretches can help strengthen the muscles around your foot and ankle, relieving strain on the plantar fascia and promoting healing.
- Custom Orthotics: Wearing specially designed shoe inserts can help support your foot’s arch, distributing pressure more evenly and preventing further injury.
- Night Splints: Wearing a night splint keeps your foot stretched while you sleep, reducing morning pain by preventing the plantar fascia from tightening overnight.
- Pain Management: Anti-inflammatory medications, ice therapy, and rest can reduce inflammation and manage discomfort.
- Focused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (Focused EWST): For individuals suffering from plantar fasciitis, Focused Extracorpeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) offers an effective and non-invasive form of treatment.
Focused shock waves are transient acoustic waves that deliver high-energy pulses directly to the painful areas of the musculoskeletal system. These waves penetrate both superficial and deep-lying tissues, allowing for precise treatment of affected areas. The energy from the shock waves stimulates the body’s natural healing mechanisms, promoting circulation, reducing inflammation, and encouraging the regeneration of damaged tissue, hence reducing pain.
The number of ESWT sessions required can vary depending on the individual’s condition and response to treatment. On average, patients generally undergo 2 to 3 treatment sessions, with each session lasting around 5 minutes. Focused EWST is an excellent option for those seeking a non-invasive approach to treating plantar fasciitis, providing an alternative to surgery. - Minimally Invasive Surgery: In rare cases where other treatments have failed, we may recommend a minimally invasive procedure to release tension in the plantar fascia, and in some cases, to release tension in tight calf muscles.
How to Prevent Plantar Fasciitis from Returning
- Footwear Advice: Wearing shoes with good arch support and shock absorption can prevent excess strain on your plantar fascia.
- Stretching and Strengthening: Regular stretching of your calf muscles, Achilles tendon, and the plantar fascia itself can help keep these tissues flexible and prevent re-injury.
- Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the pressure on your feet, lowering your risk of developing plantar fasciitis again.
Dr Tang Zhi Hao
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Tang Zhi Hao is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot, ankle, and general orthopaedic surgery. His clinical expertise includes hallux valgus (bunion) correction, ankle ligament repair for sprains, and ankle arthroscopy. He also addresses foot deformities such as pes planus (flatfoot) and pes cavus, treats heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendon disorders, and manages conditions like ankle arthritis, osteochondral lesions, and foot and ankle fractures.
Meet our experienced Foot & Ankle Specialist
Dr Tang Zhi Hao
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Tang Zhi Hao is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in foot, ankle, and general orthopaedic surgery. His clinical expertise includes hallux valgus (bunion) correction, ankle ligament repair for sprains, and ankle arthroscopy. He also addresses foot deformities such as pes planus (flatfoot) and pes cavus, treats heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendon disorders, and manages conditions like ankle arthritis, osteochondral lesions, and foot and ankle fractures.
Holistic Care for Foot and Ankle Health
At Alpha Joints & Orthopaedics Clinic, we don’t just treat plantar fasciitis. We provide comprehensive care for all foot and ankle conditions, from sports injuries to chronic pain management. Our holistic approach ensures that we address your needs, not just the injury. Whether you’re recovering from a sprain or dealing with other orthopaedic issues, we’re here to help you maintain optimal foot and ankle health.
List of Other Conditions Treated:
- Ankle Sprains
- Bunions
- Achilles Tendon Disorders
- Foot and Ankle Fractures
Why Choose Alpha Joints & Orthopaedics?
Personalised treatment for patients
of all ages
Commitment to exceed
patient expectation
Conveniently located in Farrer Park, Gleneagles, Novena and Orchard
Frequently Asked Questions
In some cases, plantar fasciitis may improve on its own with rest and reduced activity, but this process can take several months. However, without proper treatment or management, the condition may worsen or persist for a long time. Early intervention with stretching exercises, supportive footwear, and other conservative treatments can significantly speed up recovery and prevent further complications.
Certain high-impact activities that place a lot of stress on the feet, such as running, jumping, or high-intensity aerobics, should be avoided when you have plantar fasciitis. These activities can aggravate the condition and increase pain. Instead, low-impact exercises like swimming, cycling, or using an elliptical machine are safer alternatives that minimize strain on the plantar fascia while allowing you to stay active.
Heel spurs are bony protrusions that typically develop on the underside of the heel bone. In contrast, plantar fasciitis is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, usually at its attachment point to the heel bone. While heel spurs can be detected on X-rays, they are often associated with plantar fasciitis but don’t necessarily cause pain on their own. It’s the inflammation of the plantar fascia that typically leads to discomfort, not the presence of the spur itself.
Ready to Get Rid of Heel Pain? Start Your Recovery Today
If you’re tired of living with heel pain, we’re here to help. From diagnosis to personalized treatment plans, we’re with you every step of the way.