Plantar Fascitis and Low-Level Laser Therapy in Melbourne

One of the most common forms of foot pain in adults is that of chronic heel pain. The heel bone gets too much pressure and stress as it is the largest bone in the foot, and then it is also the first part of the foot that contacts the ground while any activity like walking or running. Typically, as the foot absorbs the weight of the body during any activity, the arch area joint locking mechanism provides as much as 80% of the stability to the foot. The remaining 20% of biomechanical stability is provided by the plantar fascia and muscles, ligaments and tendons. Any abnormality tends to cause inflammation of the structures attached to the heel bone that results in heel pain.

According to health experts, eighty percent (80%) of heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis, with 10% of the world population at the risk of being afflicted by it over a lifetime. A considerable number of patients are treated for plantar fasciitis each year in Melbourne. It is more common in women than men especially those aged 40-60 years.

Plantar fasciitis is a chronic heel pain that is a result of small tears and inflammation in the wide band of tendons and ligaments that stretch from the heel to the ball of the foot. This band is the arch of our foot that is known to be a shock absorber for the body. Some of the most common causes of plantar fasciitis include poor footwear, sedentary lifestyles, obesity and sports injuries. Symptoms of plantar fasciitis are a pain at the bottom of the heel on weight bearing, particularly early in the morning, and after a prolonged period of rest.

There have been many conservative treatment options for plantar fasciitis that include rest, stretching, strengthening, massage, physical therapy, orthotics and shoe inserts, etc. and it is usually after these conservative treatments fail that podiatrists treat the condition through surgical release or removal of the plantar fascia. However, the conservative approaches are usually less effective whereas the plantar fascia surgery has significant complications.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is the solution to this problem as it offers a quick, painless, non-invasive, side-effect free alternative to relieve the debilitating pain of plantar fasciitis. On being applied to injuries and lesions, low-level laser light has resulted in stimulating healing and reducing the pain by accelerating the speed, quality, and strength of tissue repair and reduction in inflammation as well.

Low-level laser therapy in Melbourne has found to be particularly effective over other standard treatments for relieving pain and other symptoms associated with chronic problems and injuries. Sole Motion Podiatry is a Laser Pain Clinic in Point Cook that is known to be incredibly impactful in treating the complete system of targeted muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, bone, nerve, and dermal tissues of the feet. They believe that excellent foot care gives their patients the freedom to live the life that they love and that is the driving force behind everything they do.