Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis

Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis

Do you struggle taking the first few steps in the morning?
Can’t stand on your foot for too long?
You have pain in your arch or heel?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above you may be suffering from a condition called Plantar Fasciitis. You can ice as much as you want, you can change the insoles in your shoes and you can rest as much as you like. The end result is always temporary pain relief.

What is the Plantar Fascia?

The plantar fascia is the part of your foot which touches the ground when you stand. It’s an arch which runs the heel bone to the ball of the foot. The plantar fascia is not a muscle but rather a piece of fibrous tissue that functions to support the arch of the foot.

Do you have Plantar Fasciitis?

A qualified Physiotherapist can correctly diagnose your condition. However, if you have Plantar Fasciitis, you can expect to have some or all of these symptoms:

• Pain upon waking up
• Pain on first few steps
• Pain in the heel
• Pain at rest, less pain during activity and return with rest
• Reduced ability to stand on feet due to pain

Factors contributing to Plantar Fasciitis:

• Age: Plantar Fasciitis is most commonly seen in the adult to elderly population. Increases in prevalence between the ages of 40 and 70. However this is not to say that younger individuals will not get it. Individuals who are inactive and quickly become over active can also develop this condition.

• Obesity/Weight Gain: Carrying excess body weight or rapidly gaining weight adds considerable load onto the plantar fascia. This can be enough to cause an overload and thus pain.

• Biomechanical Factors: These are largely out of your control however increased pronation (commonly termed overpronation) causes increased stress on the fascia and its insertion. On the contrary, a very high arch (pes cavus) has also been associated with this condition. Additionally, tightness of the muscles in and around the foot may also contribute to overloading the plantar fascia.

• Changes in activity: A sudden change in activity, especially those that involve increased weight bearing is strongly correlated to the development of this condition. This could be a seemingly small change such as going from sedentary and working at a desk to walking 3 times per week for 20 minutes. On the opposite end of the scale going from running 3 times per week to running 4-5 times per week could also incite the condition.

• Footwear: Poorly fitting footwear or shoes that do not have adequate arch support for your foot type may predispose you to the development of this condition.

If you require further guidance on how to manage your symptoms, get in touch with us today.

Could your posture be the cause of your pain?

When it comes to chronic pain and posture (and what causes chronic pain), it can be thought of in the same way as that of the chicken and the egg. Does the prolonged posture lead to chronic pain, or is the posture simply a by-product of the pain? This is where a physiotherapist can come in and help assess the underlying issues leading to chronic pain, and posture is a great place to start!

Posture for a very long time was thought of as this one size fits all approach with either a correct or incorrect posture. As we are now learning, posture should be considered as part of a continuum with certain ranges more ideal than others rather than an extremely individual position being good. This reflects the body’s joints have an ideal range of motion and provided we are not on the extremes of the continuum, we can consider it a safe or ideal position.

The idea of only having one specific type of posture is quite naïve based on the extreme amount of variability there is in humans. With so much DNA coding required during development, it makes sense that everyone has different expressions of height, arm length, leg length and even within the individual, it’s not uncommon to have asymmetrical body parts (one foot slightly shorter than the other). So it makes sense that these differences in body parts are reflected in slightly different postures.

The final piece of the puzzle when understanding posture is the idea that ‘the best posture is your next posture’. Although we have established that each individual will have an ideal range of posture, it certainly doesn’t mean once you find that position, you don’t change. In fact, it’s the opposite. Frequently changing your posture in slight ways is a great method to avoid fatiguing muscles and overloading certain structures. This could be as simple as going from a sitting to a standing position at work and breaking up those long bouts of sitting!

If you would like to learn more about posture and what causes chronic pain, or would like to have your own posture assessed, book an appointment to see one of our physiotherapists here in Newmarket. With a wealth of knowledge and a friendly smile, we will happily get you back on track.

Do you suffer from hand or wrist pain

Do you suffer from hand or wrist pain?

Do you suffer from hand or wrist pain? Whether you’re catching or throwing a ball, standing on your hands, lifting heavy weights, or working at a computer, everybody uses their hands and wrists in their day-to-day life.

Due to the complex and multitude of structures in the wrist, it can often be difficult to determine the exact cause of your wrist pain. However, a better understanding of what is causing pain in your hand and wrist can give you a better idea of what needs to be done to manage your pain.

Types of Injuries:

Fracture:

Fractures usually happen after falling over and landing on the hand, during high impact sports, or during a car or motorbike accidents. Fractures are usually found in the lower forearm bones or the small wrist bones. This type of injury is normally accompanied by swelling, bruising, tenderness, and great difficulty moving the wrist. It’s important that broken wrists are treated as soon as possible so that bones heal properly and there are no permanent problems.

Sprain:

A sprain commonly involves a ligament injury. Ligament are soft tissues which hold bones together. This can happen after a traumatic event such as a fall, finger dislocation, or jarring a finger. Symptoms of ligament injuries vary from person to person but it is usually accompanied by swelling, bruising, clicking sensation, loss of grip strength, a snapping or popping sensation, or pain when twisting your wrist.

Arthritis:

There are different types of arthritis that can affect your wrist and fingers. Osteo-arthritis (OA) is an age related symptom and is not necessarily the source of symtoms. We all have a varying degree of OA depending on our age. The three most common types of arthritis that affect the wrist are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. In the age where the majority of people are using hand-held devices and with the increase in number of office workers, the prevalence of hand and wrist osteoarthritis is becoming greater and greater. The most common symptom that suggests the presence of arthritis is swelling and a deformity of the hand. Other symptoms include tenderness, redness, warmth, and stiffness.

Muscle overuse:

People who are involved in repetitive jobs involving their hands through the day are most susceptible to suffering overuse injuries. This can range from office workers who are constantly typing and using pens, construction workers who are continuously hammering and lifting objects, and even mothers who are constantly picking up their newborn babies. Prolonged periods of high load or stress on the muscles and tendons can cause them to become irritated and inflamed and cause changes to the structure. Common symptoms of overuse problems include pain, tenderness, and decreased strength.

Nerve pain:

There are multiple nerves which provide muscle strength and sensation to the hand and nerves. When injured, these can cause pain, sensory changes and weakness. Nerves can be injured from trauma such as being cut, crushed, or overstretched but can also be injured from prolonged periods of pressure, especially in office workers who are pressing against their nerves when they are typing all day. When the nerves are injured, they are unable to deliver messages properly to the hand resulting in burning or freezing sensation, pins and needles, numbness, decreased strength, un-coordinated movement, and reduced ability to feel sensations or surfaces.

Contact Us:

For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800  or send us an email on [email protected] for further details. Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, DVA and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back on track.

Physio Parramatta: Reasons to Visit a Registered Physiotherapist

Physio Parramatta: Reasons to Visit a Registered Physiotherapist

Physiotherapy Treatment for Parramatta Locals

People think that you only need to visit a Physiotherapist if you have a serious injury or mobility issues. Physiotherapists are first contact practitioners, you do not need a referral from your doctor before seeing us. Any one who who feels acute or chronic pain, stiffness, sports injury, work injury, car accident and more recently, working from home should consult a Physiotherapist.

Pain is the body’s way of calling our attention. While not every pain requires you to rush to a Physiotherapist, acute and chronic pain may need to be evaluated by a registered Physiotherapist to determine the underlying condition. For inquiries, call 0479 080 800 or make a booking online today!

Do you need Physiotherapy treatment:

1. Do you experience repetitive pain?

When you do some strenuous work, it is normal to experience neck pain or back pain. This type of pain will usually go away after a day or two. But if some part of your body is suffering from pain that does not go away, or comes and goes, it is time to consult a Physiotherapist. A registered Physiotherapist will be able to create a program that can help manage and treat your chronic pain.

Consult a Physiotherapist in Parramatta:

Don’t let yourself suffer from lingering pain and mobility issues. Consult a Physiotherapist today. Physiotherapy Professionals Parramatta aims to deliver the highest quality Physiotherapy services in Parramatta and surrounding suburbs. Our Physiotherapists use a systematic approach in investigating your injury and determining the underlying condition of your pain. We also use the latest treatment protocols and personalise them depending on your situation.

With our proud history of managing people’s pain and improving their fitness, you are guaranteed to feel better after your consultation. Our Physiotherapy services include services for Sports injuries, Corporate health, pre & post-surgical physiotherapy, work injury, motor vehicle accidents and NDIS.

Contact us today on 0479 080 800 or book online!
We are located walking distance from Parramatta station.