Plantar Fasciitis
or Heel Pain
The heel is esigned to absorb the impact of your body weight when walking, running or undertaking weight bearing exercise. When pain does develop, it can be very disabling, making every step a problem which in turn affects your overall posture.
What causes the problem?
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. The plantar fascia is the ligament between your heel bone and toes that supports the arch of the foot. If you strain your plantar fascia it can become weak, swollen and irritated. This will cause pain in your heel or the bottom of your foot when you stand or walk.
Plantar fasciitis (or heel pain) is a common occurrence. Often, the pain is caused by small repetitive injuries that occur at a rate faster than the body can heal them.
Plantar fasciitis can also be caused by lower back problems or inflammatory joint conditions.
Is it serious?
Plantar fasciitis is a common condition and in most cases will diminish following some routine self-care measures. If the pain persists longer than three weeks contact us for further advice.
Who gets it?
Plantar fasciitis can affect everyone, whatever your age, but those more commonly affected are the over 40s age group and athletes.
How do I know I have it?
With heel spurs, a deep painful spot is often found around the middle of the heel and is usually worse on standing after long periods of rest. Although the name implies a spur of bone sticking out of the heel bone, around 10% of the population have heel spurs without any pain.
With bursitis, pain can be felt at the back of the heel when the ankle joint is moved. There may also be a swelling on both sides of the Achilles tendon. Or you may feel pain deep inside the heel when it makes contact with the ground.
With heel bumps, these are usually caused by excessive shoe rubbing in the heel area.
How do I prevent it?
Avoid wearing ill-fitting or uncomfortable shoes. Wear shoes with good heel cushioning and effective arch support. Avoid walking or exercising on hard ground, rest regularly and try not to walk or run too fast.
How can it be treated?
Treatment can take many forms. From resting your foot, stretching exercises, deep heat therapy, steroid injections and medication or surgery. In some cases, padding and strapping is applied to alter the direction of stretch of the ligament. However, for the long-term, special insoles may be prescribed to help the feet to function more effectively.
AA Podiatry offer specialist treatment options to customers suffering from plantar fasciitis / painful heels in Glasgow.
We also offer a range of custom made and bespoke orthotics prescribed in our clinics by our specialist MSK Podiatrists.
Plantar Fasciitis - FAQ's
What exactly is plantar fasciitis and why does my heel hurt most when I get out of bed?
Plantar fasciitis or Plantar Fasciopathy happens when the plantar fascia—a thick band of tissue under your foot—develops tiny tears and irritation from stress or overuse. This leads to pain, especially after rest. Your heel hurts most in the morning because the fascia tightens overnight, and those first steps stretch it suddenly leading to discomfort.
How long does plantar fasciitis usually take to get better?
Recovery time varies. Mild cases can improve in 4–6 weeks with proper care, while most people recover within 3–6 months. Severe or chronic cases may take 6–12 months or longer, especially if treatment is delayed. Early intervention is key, and consistent care can get the best results.
What self-help treatments (stretches, ice, footwear, insoles) make a difference?
Stretching and support can really help. Daily calf and foot stretches reduce strain on the fascia. Rolling your foot over a frozen water bottle combines cold therapy with gentle massage to ease pain. Supportive shoes and insoles help manage load, ease pain and can speed recovery.
When should I see a podiatrist or physio, and what extra treatments can they offer?
If your heel pain lasts more than 1–2 weeks despite home care, gets worse, or makes daily activities difficult, it’s time to see our podiatrists. We can come to the correct diagnosis and can offer tailored treatment plans based on your presentation. Appropriate advice on footwear, exercise programs, insoles, advanced treatments options and adjunct therapies will help settle down your symptoms.
Can injections or surgery help plantar fasciitis, and are they always necessary?
Yes, they can help but are not usually first line treatment options. Steroid injections can reduce pain and inflammation for stubborn chronic cases. Surgery is usually a last resort option and is rare. Most people will improve with non-surgical interventions we can offer in clinic.