Heel pain (plantar fasciitis)

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain in adults. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue running along the sole of your foot from your heel to your toes. When it is overloaded, it becomes irritated and painful where it attaches to the heel.

Common signs

• Sharp or stabbing pain under the heel, especially with your first steps in the morning or after sitting for a while
• Pain that eases as you get moving, then returns after standing or walking for long periods
• Tenderness when you press on the inside of the heel

It is more common in people who stand for long hours at work, runners, people carrying extra weight, and people with very flat or very high-arched feet.

How orthotics can help

Most heel pain gets better with simple measures: stretching, supportive footwear and gradually adjusting your activity. When it doesn't, or keeps coming back, orthotics can take the load off the irritated tissue:

• Custom foot orthoses (insoles) that support your arch and cushion the heel, made to the shape of your feet
• Night splints that keep the fascia gently stretched while you sleep, which can ease morning pain
• Footwear advice for work and exercise

At your assessment in our Eldoraigne, Centurion practice we look at how you stand and walk [including gait analysis], check your shoes, and recommend the simplest option likely to work.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor rather than waiting it out if:

• the pain started after a fall or injury, or you can't put weight on your foot
• your heel is red, hot or swollen, or you have a fever
• you have numbness, tingling or burning in your foot
• you have diabetes and any new foot pain or wound
• the pain is severe at night or at rest.