Heel Pain?
Did you know that approximately one-in-ten people will have an episode of plantar fasciitis at some point in their life? Chances are you are one of them. Plantar fasciitis can sneak up, starting gradually and getting worse over time. From milder cases to the most severe, the pt Health Complete Plantar Fasciitis Program uses an approach that intervenes appropriately no matter what stage a patient is at.
The pt Health Plantar Fasciitis Program
We know that plantar fasciitis makes every step painful, but real, long-term help is rarely found in “get better quick” schemes online. Every plantar fasciitis patient is different and deserves treatment that is tailored to them. Complete treatment means working with clinicians who are experts and who focus on you as an individual.
pt Health clinicians are trained to take a comprehensive approach to the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Our clinical approach involves a complete individual analysis that takes biomechanical factors, skeletal structure, lifestyle, and work function into account.
- Does not require surgery
- Does not rely on medication or painkillers
- Provides effective therapeutic approaches
- Treats patients at different levels of severity.
- Is covered by most extended health plans.
- Starts quickly with next day appointment booking.
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
- Burning pain that makes it difficult to put weight on the heel of the affected foot
- Stiffness in foot
- Pain is worse in the morning
Plantar Fasciitis Rehab
- Gives patients tools – like specific stretches and exercises – that allow patients to continue to improve at home
- Provides preventative and supportive therapeutic options, including bracing, orthotic insoles, and splints
- Includes ultrasound treatments
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What is Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis the term used to describe heel pain. It is estimated that one in ten people will suffer from heel pain at some point in their life. Typically, plantar fasciitis only affects one heel. However, in about 30% of cases, the pain is felt in both heels, typically as a burning sensation. It starts gradually and builds over time, worsening until any pressure placed on the affected heel is extreme.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is caused when the thick band of tissue (the plantar aponeurosis) that stretches from the heel bone to the toes becomes damaged, gets inflamed, and begins to thicken or degenerate. In essence, plantar fasciitis is caused by chronic irritation of the arch of the foot because of excessive strain, not to be confused with heel spurs.
Think of it this way: the plantar fascia helps to support the arch. If it undersupports, the foot flattens out. Oversupporting can cause the plantar fascia to absorb too much weight much too quickly. The result in either case is damage and results in a burning pain that makes it difficult to put any weight on the heel of the affected foot.
Why me?
There are some lifestyle and risk factors that can pre-dispose an individual towards plantar fasciitis. If you have flat feet or pronate (roll inward) on your arches, you are pre-disposed to plantar fasciitis. The same can also be said of supination (rolling outward on your arches). Abnormalities in skeletal structure and biomechanical alignment make you more vulnerable to developing plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is also very common in runners and dancers due to the high impact nature of the sport. People who have a BMI of 30 or over (clinically obese) are also vulnerable because of the strain that excess weight places on the plantar fascia and arches.
Research is also starting to indicate that menopausal women are vulnerable to plantar fasciitis at a higher percentage rate than the average population. Generally, people over 40 see a higher incidence of plantar fasciitis due to general wear and tear on the foot over time.
Do I have to live like this from now on?
The answer is not if we have anything to say about it! In milder cases, plantar fasciitis may resolve on its own. But in cases that are moderate to severe, the condition can worsen without intervention. pt Health clinicians use a variety of therapeutic approaches depending on the cause and severity of the condition. In some cases, a stringent routine of specific stretching exercises will make a big difference. In other cases, ultrasound treatment combined with stretching, physiotherapy, and massage therapy will be effective. Often, custom-designed orthotics are recommended to help correct underlying skeletal abnormalities or biomechanical inefficiencies. Bracing can also be very effective. In the most severe cases, a patient’s physician might recommend surgical intervention. In those instances, pt Health clinicians will work with patients on post-surgical rehabilitation and recovery.
Why is the pt Health Complete Fasciitis Program for me?
This program is for you because it is designed to assess and treat your specific needs. Years of experience in the practice of diagnosing and treating plantar fasciitis led our clinicians to realize that our patients needed a dedicated treatment and rehabilitation program. The pt Health Complete Plantar Fasciitis Program was created so that we could focus on providing the most effective diagnostic and clinical treatment options for patients coping with plantar fasciitis.
In addition to individualized diagnosis and treatment options, pt Health clinicians teach all patients in the Complete Plantar Fasciitis Program how to cope with the everyday effects of plantar fasciitis using specific movement modifications. They also provide education around how to avoid the risk factors that might aggravate the condition. Their goal is to help you get back to your everyday activities with a significant increase in function and decrease in pain. They want you to get well and stay well.
Why Wait?
Research clearly shows that the sooner you start treatment for pain or injury, the higher your chances of feeling relief quickly. At pt Health, our clinicians are recognized leaders in the health care field. Many have respected roles in regulatory bodies, provincial associations, government committees, and mentorship programs. pt Health clinicians also train other health care professionals through continuing education courses and in post-secondary institutions. We believe our patients deserve the best treatment possible. That is why our clinicians continue to learn, teach, collaborate, and innovate throughout their careers at pt Health.
pt Health clinicians understand the complexities of pain, injury, and managing ongoing health concerns. We believe that every patient’s experience is unique and important. We have a team of dedicated, compassionate, and committed professionals who work together to make sure that our patients get well and stay well.
Paula’s story
Paula is a 50 year old high school science teacher. Although she was active in her 30s, she’s become more sedentary in her forties and has put on a bit of weight as a result. For the past couple of months, she has started to experience a sharp pain in her heel whenever her feet touch the ground after a period of rest.
From bad to worse
The pain has worsened and she’s started to dread getting out of bed in the morning or standing after she’s been sitting for a while. She isn’t able to stand as long at work and feels less involved with her students as a result. Her friend is a gym teacher at her school, and – after chatting with her about her symptoms – tells her he thinks she might have plantar fasciitis. He tells her she should go for physiotherapy. At his urging, she decides to call the pt Health physiotherapy clinic close to her home to make an appointment.
Getting help
At her appointment three days later, the pt Health physiotherapist explained to Paula how the Complete Plantar Fasciitis Program works. As per program protocol, he started with a thorough assessment. The physio took a look at how Paula walked. He noticed that she was a pronator and that her feet rolled in a bit. He asked about the kind of shoes she wore, noting that she wears flats almost exclusively. He asked her to describe her symptoms and pain in detail. Then he did a physical examination of her foot checking flexibility, musculoskeletal structure, and the exact location where she felt pain. He concluded that she was suffering from a moderate case of plantar fasciitis.
Making changes
Paula began a course of treatment that began with manual therapy and ultrasound for the first couple of weeks. The physio recommended that she get orthotics to help correct the pronation and take some stress off her feet. Paula was very happy that her insurance covered orthotics and that they were able to do a mold of her foot and order the orthotics at the clinic. They physio also showed her a very specific set of stretches that she was to do before she got out of bed in the morning or after a period of rest. Finally, he recommended that she stop wearing flats, and switch to cushioned shoes with a slight heel that would keep her plantar fascia slightly flexed, thereby preventing strain.
Looking forward to the future
Three months later, Paula is pain free. She does her stretches every day, and wears the type of footwear and shoes her pt Health physiotherapist recommended. But most importantly, she’s again able to stand and teach her classes without any trouble, and feels completely engaged with her students again.(877) 650-9416
Coverage Options
At pt Health, we know that sorting out insurance paperwork can be time-consuming and confusing. We want your focus to be on getting well and staying well. With that in mind, we do our best to help you navigate through the necessary forms. We speak with your insurance providers and we’ll answer any questions you may have about your coverage.
- RCMP
- DND
- Canadian Forces
- Veterans Affairs
For any treatments that are only partially covered, you may be asked to co-pay the difference at each visit.