Plantar fasciitis... a word thrown around a lot here in Peak Podiatry. A word also used more and more frequently by the public as this pesky plantar problem becomes more and more prevalent in the Irish population.

Other blogs have delved into the wonderful world of the plantar fascia, but today's piece is focusing on the cure - part of the cure - Orthotics. 

Orthotics are inserts for your shoes. They are usually indicated for plantar fasciitis pain, but each patient is assessed individually for this.

If this is the first time you've heard of orthotics or of plantar fasciitis, give our other blogs a read first, it will all make more sense then! Here is one on Plantar Fasciitis you may find enlightening.

When treating plantar fasciitis, one of the most important parts of the treatment is offloading the foot - the plantar fascia. This can be done in a number of ways:

• Resting - Rest sounds easy, but most people have work and busy lives so cannot take to the bed for months at a time. 

• Padding or strapping - Padding and strapping is effective, however it is easily compressed, takes a skilled hand to apply properly and it is a nuisance to keep dry when washing.

• Orthotics - The final way we can offload the plantar fascia is by using orthotics!

Here in Peak Podiatry we offer bespoke insoles, which are custom made for your foot, effectively offloading the plantar fascia.

Each pair of custom orthotics is slightly different, however some common features of an orthotic for plantar fasciitis are a high arch support, a deep heel cup and special padding to promote movement in the big toe joint.

Before prescribing orthotics, a gait assessment is carried out. This is so that we can determine if any more cushioning or wedging is required to alter the biomechanics in your foot and optimally offload the affected structures. 

Unfortunately, orthotics are only part of the cure for plantar fasciitis. We use a range of treatment modalities tailored to the patients individual needs and abilities to help heal those hurting heels. Some other treatments we offer to those with plantar fasciitis include: 

• Class IV soft tissue laser

• Dry needling

• Foot mobilisation

• Ischaemic compression

• Myofascial blading

Strength and conditioning is also imperative in treating plantar fascia pain.

If any of this interests you or you'd like to hear more, give us a call. Our dedicated team would be more than happy to discuss your foot pains and concerns either over the phone or in a free assessment. Phone on 091 734 140 or book online at peakpodiatry.ie

Help those heels heal once and for all!