Plantar fasciitis is the most common reason that people are referred to me for orthotics.

What is it?

The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue under the foot which supports the arch and helps with weight bearing. Typically, a patient will feel pain under the medial aspect of their heel when getting up first thing in the morning or after sitting for a long period of time. After a few minutes of walking, the pain eases. The pain occurs because the plantar fascia is being pulled at it’s origin on the bottom of the heel. This is usually due to faulty biomechanics of the feet coupled with wear and tear overtime or with over use.

How do I get rid of it?

If your pain has persisted for over two weeks, I suggest that you seek help from a professional.

Plantar fasciitis can be quite stubborn but over the years I have helped many patients (runners and people who stand a lot for work, to name a few) get rid of their pain. Since plantar fasciitis usually develops slowly overtime, there is usually an underlying biomechanical fault. At Gait Tech Orthotics, I would do a full clinical assessment of your complaint followed by a computerized gait analysis to determine the fault. If orthotics are appropriate, I will prescribe them for a patient.

In addition to orthotics, I will teach the patient how to stretch their calf muscles and the muscles of the foot as well as how to roll the foot. This multi-pronged approach to treatment usually gets rid of patients’ complaints.

If you are living in Jamaica and would like to book an appointment to see me, please call 927 5255. I come to the island once per month to see patients for orthotics.