If you've ever had heel pain, you already know how it can make even the little things feel difficult. Our Tauranga patients tell us they struggle to stand for long periods, playing with the kids gets harder, and exercise becomes near impossible.

The good news is there's a way to treat it that goes after the underlying cause, so you can get moving freely again.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Normally, pain in the heel or the arch of the foot is due to a condition called plantar fasciitis. It's one of the most common causes of foot pain we see.

The plantar fascia is the tissue that runs under the bottom of your foot. When the joints of the foot are out of alignment, this tissue becomes inflamed. The pulling causes small tears in the tissue, which bleed and cause considerable pain.

What does plantar fasciitis feel like?

Often, the pain is noticed:

• with their first steps of the day, getting out of bed in the morning
• after periods of rest, such as standing up after sitting for a while

It can be a serious problem. If it's left untreated, it will eventually restrict your daily activity.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

There are two main causes:

1. The way you walk (the alignment of your foot). When your foot posture is out of alignment, it puts extra stress on the soft tissues that support your foot. This leads to small tears in the tissue and pain.
2. Tight muscles. Your calf muscle is the main contributor. It runs down behind the heel and inserts near the plantar fascia, the tissue under your foot. Because the two are so closely connected, tight calves place tension on the plantar fascia around your heel.

Why you shouldn't put up with heel pain

Plantar fasciitis does not heal itself. It's important to treat the underlying cause so it doesn't keep coming back.

The longer it's left untreated, the more treatment is needed, and that means more appointments and more cost.

How we treat heel pain in Tauranga, without orthotics

At Corrective Foot Solutions, we start with an advanced hands-on assessment to find out why your heel or arch is hurting.

From there, we use Foot Mobilisation Therapy (FMT), a gentle, hands-on technique that guides the joints of your foot back into position. We then combine it with specific exercises to support the changes. Because we're treating the underlying cause, you don't need orthotics or surgery, and you can keep wearing the shoes you love.

We also give you measurable and objective feedback on your progress, so you can see how your feet are changing.

Want to see what this looks like in real life? Read how Felicity beat her arch pain without orthotics.

Get back on your feet

We believe that quality of life is important, and that means the ability to move freely. We love seeing you get back on your feet, whether it's walking that extra kilometre, keeping up with the kids, running or just being able to wear the shoes you love.

If heel or arch pain is slowing you down, give our Tauranga clinic a call on 07 925 0269 or book an appointment online. You'll find us at 1260a Cameron Road, Gate Pa.