Podiatry
Plantar Fasciitis
One of the most common causes of heel pain, affecting the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot.
Plantar fasciitis (also called fasciopathy) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It affects the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting your heel to your toes.
The plantar fascia works a bit like a cross between a ligament and a tendon. It supports the arch of your foot, absorbs shock like an elastic band, and recoils to help you spring forward as you walk or run.
Risk factors & causes
Plantar fasciitis usually comes down to “too much, too soon.” The plantar fascia isn't as stretchy as muscle, and it doesn't tolerate twisting or rolling movements well. So when your foot experiences a high volume of rolling in or out, or suddenly faces more load than it's used to, the plantar fascia is often the first structure to give way.
- High-impact sports such as jumping or distance running
- Standing for long periods at work
- Unsupportive footwear such as thongs, flats, and flexible sneakers or boots
- Training or working on a hard surface such as concrete
- Increased body weight
- Poor general fitness
- Overstriding or a heavy heel-strike gait pattern
Common symptoms
- Pain in the first few steps after getting out of bed or after prolonged sitting, which eases after a few minutes
- A sharp, stabbing pain in the heel
- A dull, constant ache that worsens the longer you're on your feet
- Pain that improves while you're moving, but flares up again once you stop
Assessment & treatment
Why “Fasciitis” Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
The name “plantar fasciitis” suggests inflammation, which the suffix “-itis” directly implies. In the first few weeks after a heel injury — for example, after a sudden increase in running or jumping — inflammation is often genuinely part of your body's initial healing response.
But research over the past two decades has shown that for people with pain lasting longer than two months, inflammation is usually no longer the main issue. Tissue samples from long-standing cases typically show something different: degraded, disorganised tissue, without the classic markers of inflammation. This is technically called fasciosis rather than fasciitis.
Here's how that happens: repetitive strain creates tiny tears in the plantar fascia. Like most tendons and ligaments, the plantar fascia has a limited blood supply, so it heals slowly. Over time, those small tears are patched with weaker, disorganised tissue, leaving the plantar fascia partially healed and more prone to re-injury. Left unaddressed, this can become a cycle of breakdown, weakening, and persistent pain.
Why Does This Matter for Your Treatment?
Because acute inflammation and chronic tissue degeneration are different problems, they don't respond to the same treatment. Rest, ice, and anti-inflammatories are helpful in the first week or two, while your body is going through the early, acute stage of inflammation. For longer-standing cases, however, these measures tend to only ease symptoms temporarily, without addressing the underlying weakness in the tissue.
Most cases of plantar fasciitis sit somewhere on a spectrum between these two, with presentations often containing a mixture of both inflammation and degeneration. Your podiatrist is trained to recognise this distinction and build a treatment plan around where you actually are in that process, rather than one that only manages symptoms.
Treatment
There's no single fix for plantar fasciitis. Recovery is a highly individualised process, not a one-off procedure. At Simba Health, we guide you through a structured, evidence-based rehabilitation pathway tailored to where you are in that process.
Treatment may include:
- Progressive loading exercises to rebuild the strength and resilience of the plantar fascia, rather than just resting it
- Footwear assessment and changes to reduce ongoing strain through your day-to-day activity
- Orthotics to offload and support the foot where needed
- Shockwave therapy to stimulate healing in tissue that hasn't responded to conservative care
- Dry needling to help manage pain and muscle tightness contributing to your symptoms
- Running technique and load coaching for active patients, to address the training factors that may have contributed to the injury
How Simba Health treats Plantar Fasciitis
Our podiatry clinicians assess the cause of your symptoms and build a personalised, evidence-based plan to treat Plantar Fasciitis. With no GP referral required and initial appointments from $109, you can start care quickly at a clinic near you.
Podiatry near you
Frequently asked questions
No. You can book podiatry directly at Simba Health with no GP referral, so you can start treatment for Plantar Fasciitis without delay. Initial appointments start from $109. A referral may still help if you're claiming under a care plan.
Plantar Fasciitis is treated under our podiatry service, with initial consultations from $109 and lower follow-up fees. We keep our pricing transparent so you know what to expect before your appointment.
Our podiatry clinicians assess the underlying cause of your symptoms, then build a personalised, evidence-based treatment plan for Plantar Fasciitis. Many people start to notice improvement once the right plan is underway.
Not sure this is right for you?
Call us and we'll help you find the right service and clinician for your needs.
(02) 9188 0544