Plantar Fasciitis (also known as Policeman’s heel) is the condition where inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes occurs.
Some common indentifiers of policeman’s heel include:
- Plantar Fasciitis is a condition where the plantar fascia becomes inflamed
- Similar to denim fabric, the fascia is a rigid structure that has minimal give when stretched.
- It is usually long enough to minimize the need to stretch it but structural changes can make it shorter or tighter, causing it to be stretched and inflamed during activities
- Increased mechanical stresses, such as prolonged standing, walking or running can also cause it to become inflamed.
- This leads to pain along where the plantar fascia runs at the bottom of the foot- from the heel and sometimes to the base of the toes
Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis
- A patient with plantar fasciitis may experience gradual pain at the bottom of the foot- particularly around the heel and up to the bottom of the toes
- It is usually at its worst after not standing or walking for a while- such as when you first get up from bed or after sitting for a long time (also called “first-step pain”)
- It improves once you start walking around although may be painful afterwards
- As it becomes worse, it may also be painful when walking or when you are not on your feet (ie. While you are sleeping at night)
Common misconceptions about Policeman’s Heel
MYTH 1: A bony spur, known as a plantar spur, is the cause of pain in plantar fasciitis. As a result, some patients ask health professionals if they can “get rid” of the bony spur to improve the pain.
FACT: studies have found that patients without plantar fascia pain also have the spurs- hence indicating the presence of spurs is normal and not the cause of plantar fasciitis pain!
MYTH 2: Corticosteroid injections is a miracle treatment that can get rid of my plantar fasciitis pain forever!
FACT: Corticosteroid injections only help with short term pain relief and ongoing use can lead to deteriorating structural changes in the structures around the heel.
How a Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist can help
- There are many different pathologies that can cause pain in the heel and sole of the foot
- A physiotherapist can:
- Confirm if the pain is, indeed, from plantar fasciitis (and nothing else!)
- If it is plantar fasciitis, address the different causative factors that are leading it to become inflamed
- Provide a progressive exercise program so that you can achieve your physiotherapy goals!
- Studies have shown that weakness in particular muscles in the legs can lead to changes in the posture of foot; hence causing plantar fasciitis pain
- After your symptoms reduce significantly with a physiotherapist, exercise physiologists can strengthen the muscles around your hips and ankle to reduce the risk of recurrence!
References:
Brukner, P., Khan, K. (2019). CLINICAL SPORTS MEDICINE 5E – VOL 1. United Kingdom: McGraw-Hill Education.
Goff, J. D., & Crawford, R. (2011). Diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis. American family physician, 84(6), 676-682.
Disclaimer:
Please remember that medical information provided by Optimum Health Solutions, without consultation with a health care professional, must be considered as an educational service only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation.
