Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common reasons people in Barrie come in for orthotics. It can make the first steps out of bed feel like stepping on a stone. Here is what it is, what people usually try, where custom orthotics may fit in, and when it is time to get it looked at.
What plantar fasciitis is
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue under the foot, running from the heel bone to the base of the toes. It helps hold up the arch and takes strain every time you step. When it is irritated, the result is plantar fasciitis: pain under the heel or along the arch.
The classic signs are sharp heel pain in the first steps of the morning or after sitting, which eases as you walk around, then returns after a long time on your feet. Some people also have a heel spur, a small bony growth on the heel bone, which often shows up on an x-ray alongside it.
Who tends to get it
- People who stand or walk on hard floors for long shifts: nurses, retail, warehouse, trades
- Runners, especially after a jump in distance
- People with very flat feet or very high arches
- People who have recently gained weight or started a new activity
- People wearing worn-out or unsupportive shoes
What people usually try first
Many cases settle with simple steps, and doctors commonly suggest some of these. Check with your own doctor about what suits you:
- Easing off the activity that brings the pain on, for a while
- Calf and foot stretches, especially before the first steps of the day
- Supportive shoes, and not going barefoot on hard floors
- Ice after activity
- Replacing running shoes that have done a lot of distance
How custom orthotics may help
A custom orthotic is designed to support the arch and spread load away from the sore part of the heel. Many people with plantar fasciitis use orthotics alongside stretching and better shoes. Whether they may help you depends on how your feet work, which is why the assessment comes first.
At Pro Motion Healthcare, a certified pedorthist (C.PED) takes a 3D scan of each foot as you stand, and you walk across a pressure mat that records where your weight lands. With heel pain, the map often shows how hard the heel strikes and how far the arch drops. The orthotic is designed from that data and 3D printed, then fitted in your shoes. The full process is on custom orthotics Barrie.
Store-bought or custom?
Some people get relief from a good store-bought heel cup or insole, and it is a reasonable thing to try. If the pain keeps coming back, or you are on your feet all day, an assessment can show whether a custom orthotic is worth it. Plans usually only pay for custom orthotics with a prescription.
Breaking them in with sore heels
New orthotics feel firm at first. The clinic’s advice is to start with about an hour to an hour and a half on the first day, two to two and a half on the second, and a little more each day. Most people adjust in two to four weeks. Keep them out of sports for the first two weeks. The clinic checks in after about two weeks, and the shells can be adjusted.
When to see a doctor first
See your doctor if the pain started after a fall or injury, if there is swelling, numbness or tingling, if you cannot put weight on the foot, or if it is getting worse despite rest. Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes, and a prescription that names it is what most plans need to pay for orthotics. Our article on orthotics insurance in Ontario explains the rest of the claim.
Other kinds of heel and foot pain
Not every sore heel is plantar fasciitis, which is one more reason to have it looked at rather than guess. Achilles pain sits at the back of the heel; pain under the ball of the foot is often metatarsalgia. The page on foot orthotics Barrie goes through each, and orthotics Barrie covers the models, including Running, Everyday and Industrial for work boots.
Heel pain that keeps coming back? Book a foot scan in Barrie.
Questions people ask
Do orthotics help plantar fasciitis?
Many people use orthotics alongside stretching, supportive shoes and their doctor’s advice. Whether they may help you depends on what the assessment finds.
How long does plantar fasciitis last?
It varies from person to person. Your doctor can tell you what to expect in your case.
Should I wear orthotics all day?
Once they are broken in, many people wear them in the shoes they use most. Build up over two to four weeks first.
Do I need a prescription for plantar fasciitis orthotics?
To claim them on most plans, yes: a prescription with the diagnosis from a physician, chiropodist or podiatrist, and some plans accept a nurse practitioner.