Why Your First Steps Hurt: A Guide to Treating Plantar Fasciitis in Howick
Do you dread those first few steps out of bed in the morning? That sharp, stabbing pain in your heel is the hallmark sign of Plantar Fasciitis, one of the most common foot conditions we treat here at Velca Health Centre in Howick.
Whether you’re a runner pounding the pavement at Eastern Beach or someone who spends all day on their feet, heel pain can be debilitating. The good news is that you rarely need surgery to fix it.
What is Plantar Fasciitis? The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes, supporting the arch of your foot. When this tissue gets overloaded or strained, it develops micro-tears and becomes inflamed.
Common Symptoms
Stabbing heel pain particularly during the first steps in the morning.
Pain after exercise, not usually during it.
Pain after long periods of standing or rising from sitting.
Why is it common in East Auckland? We see a spike in this condition with "weekend warriors" increasing their mileage on the Pakuranga Rotary Path, or locals wearing unsupportive footwear (like jandals) on hard surfaces. Especially as people try to get fit for summer.
How We Treat It at Velca
At Velca, we use a multidisciplinary approach:
Manual Therapy: Deep tissue massage to release tight calf muscles that pull on the fascia.
Chiropractic Adjustments: Ensuring your ankle and foot joints are moving correctly to distribute load.
Exercise Rehab: Specific loading exercises (like high-load strength training) to rebuild the tissue's tolerance.
Orthotic Advice: Sometimes, a temporary insert is needed to offload the pressure.
Shockwave: Should the above options not work then shockwave is the next step. At Velca we offer shockwave inhouse. No need for a specialist referral.
Action Plan Don’t ignore heel pain. The longer you walk on it, the harder it is to treat. Book a consultation with our Physio or Chiro team today and get back to walking the Howick coast pain-free.
