Plantar fascia tear/ Strain
What is a Plantar Fascia Tear/Strain ?
Plantar fascia tears occur rarely sometimes they occur in combination with plantar fasciitis. Typically plantar fascia tears occur after a sudden traumatic incident – stepping on something or a sudden force that stretches the plantar fascia.
People with a plantar fascia tear like plantar fasciitis, typically have a sore heel and pain when first getting out of bed which reduces slightly with initial walking and then returns again with extended walking.
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What Causes Plantar Fascial Tears?
The plantar fascia is a long rope like structure that supports the arch of the foot. Tears in the plantar fascia can involve chronic degeneration along the length of the plantar fascia and also can occur with acute trauma.
Certain factors are though to increase the risk for the development of plantar fascia tears including:
- Non- Supportive footwear
- Flat arched feet
- High arched feet
- Sudden increase in activity
- Trauma
- Being overweight
- Hormone problems (Reduced Thyroid function, Menopause)
- Connective tissue disorders (Rheumatoid arthritis)
Diagnosis of a Plantar Fascia Tear/Strain
Diagnosis is generally made with specific signs and symptoms – when the pain occurs and the location.
At the Ankle, Foot and Orthotic Centre we are able to provide additional information about the presence of tears in the plantar fascia with ultrasound imaging. Typically someone with a plantar fascia tear will have disruption to the normal fibrillar pattern in the plantar fascia
| Note the thickened and disorganised midportion of the plantar fascia | |
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Treatment of a Plantar Fascia Tear/Strain
We are able to provide you the latest techniques to reduce the disorganisation of the connective tissue in the plantar fascia and also offload the plantar fascia.
We are able to provide:
- Shockwave therapy
- Orthotic Offloading
- Ultrasound guided injection therapy
- Stretching regimes
- Taping
- Home Massage techniques
- Night Splinting
The Ankle, Foot and Orthotic Centre’s Northcote Podiatrists can help you with all lower limb complaints, including Plantar Fascia Tears/strains. Make an appointment to get your foot and ankle pain under control.
Expert Podiatrists for the treatment of Plantar fascia tears servicing the areas of Northcote, Thornbury, Fitzroy, North Fitzroy, Carlton, North Carlton, Alphington, Fairfield, Brunswick, Coburg and Preston