Heel pain · Ponsonby
Plantar fasciitis treatment for that first-step heel pain
If the worst pain of your day is the first few steps out of bed, the kind that makes you wince and limp to the bathroom, that is the classic sign of plantar fasciitis. It is common in nurses, hospitality and retail workers, runners and anyone on their feet all day. The good news is it responds well to the right treatment, and you do not have to put up with it for months.
Does this sound like you?
- ✓ Sharp, stabbing pain under the heel on the first steps in the morning
- ✓ It eases after a few minutes, then returns after sitting or standing for a while
- ✓ Worse at the end of a long day on your feet
- ✓ Stretching and softer shoes have helped a little but not fixed it
If that sounds like you, this is exactly what we treat. Book an assessment and we will confirm the right plan.
What plantar fasciitis actually is
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue running along the sole of your foot, from the heel to the toes. When it is overloaded it becomes painful where it attaches to the heel bone. That is why the pain is sharpest first thing: the fascia has tightened overnight and those first steps stretch it suddenly. It is not something you have to live with, but it does need more than rest to settle for good.
How we treat plantar fasciitis
We assess your foot, your footwear and the way you load it, because the fix is rarely just the heel. For pain that has hung around, shockwave therapy is one of the most effective tools we have: it stimulates the tissue to repair and brings the pain down. We pair it with targeted stretching, strengthening and, where it helps, advice on support and load so the problem does not simply return.
Getting you back on your feet
Because plantar fasciitis is so tied to how much time you spend standing and walking, we build the plan around your actual day, not a generic sheet of exercises. Most people see meaningful improvement over a course of treatment, and we are clear with you about what is realistic and how long it should take.
This is one of the injuries we treat with shockwave therapy at our Ponsonby clinic. Read more about how shockwave works, who it suits and what a course of treatment involves.
Common questions
Does shockwave help plantar fasciitis? +
Will I need orthotics? +
Is it covered by ACC? +
Related
Other injuries we treat
Shockwave therapy in Ponsonby
How shockwave works, who it suits and what a course of treatment involves.
About shockwave therapy →Achilles tendonitis treatment
The niggle at the back of the heel that will not settle, even after months of rest and stretching.
Achilles Pain →Tennis elbow treatment
Pain on the outside of the elbow from gripping all day, and you have never picked up a racquet.
Tennis Elbow →Golfer's elbow treatment
Pain on the inside of the elbow from gripping and wrist work, and you have probably never played golf.
Golfer's Elbow →Rotator cuff and shoulder pain treatment
Persistent shoulder pain limiting your overhead movement and your sleep, from a strain that has not fully resolved.
Shoulder Pain →Trigger point treatment
Tight, aching muscle knots in the neck, shoulders or back that refer pain to other areas.
Trigger Points →Hamstring pain and tendon treatment
Recurring hamstring tightness or a deep ache at the sit bone that has not resolved with stretching or rest.
Hamstring Pain →Shin splints and shin pain treatment
Shin pain that comes back every time you build your running: shin splints that rest alone has not fixed.
Shin Pain →Shoulder and hip bursitis treatment
A burning, persistent pain in the shoulder or hip, and you want a solution beyond repeated injections.
Bursitis →Not sure if it's right for you?
Send us a message
Tell us what's going on and we'll come back to you within one business day.
Book your assessment
Your first visit is a full assessment, hands-on treatment, and a plan you take home.
Visit us
Our Ponsonby clinic
Return To Form Physio
179A Ponsonby Road
Ponsonby, Auckland 1011
Entry on Franklin Road
ACC registered · Multi-disciplinary team · Treating Ponsonby for over 16 years