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? +
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Book your assessment
We'll assess what's going on and agree a plan to get you back to top form.
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 Auckland for over a decade