At Cutting Edge Podiatry in Cambridge, we often help people with plantar fasciitis, a condition that causes pain in the heel and arch of the foot. It is particularly common among runners, walkers, and anyone who spends long hours on their feet.
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It occurs when the strong band of tissue under your foot, called the plantar fascia, becomes irritated or overloaded. This can lead to sharp pain under the heel or arch, particularly when taking your first steps in the morning.
Although plantar fasciitis is commonly linked to poor footwear or too much activity, the cause often lies in how you move. This is why gait analysis can help.
How Your Gait Can Increase Your Risk of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is often linked to biomechanical overload. This means the plantar fascia is placed under too much tension during walking or running. Common gait-related risk factors include:
• Reduced ankle movement (limited dorsiflexion)
• Excessive inward foot rolling (rearfoot eversion)
• Weak calf or hip muscles
• Low or high arches
• Long stride length and low step rate (cadence)
These movement patterns can cause the fascia to work harder than it should, leading to tiny strains that build-up over time. Identifying and correcting these patterns early is the key to prevention.
What is Gait Analysis?
Gait analysis involves a detailed assessment of how you walk or run. In our Cambridge gait lab, we use advanced motion-capture technology to measure how your hips, knees, ankles, and feet move with every step.
This enables us to see how your joints, muscles, and posture work together. This data helps us identify the small movement patterns that increase strain on the plantar fascia before pain even begins.
How Gait Analysis Helps Prevent Heel Pain
Once we understand how you move, we can design a personalised plan to reduce stress on the plantar fascia. This might include:
- Targeted strengthening and stretching exercises
- Gait retraining to improve movement efficiency
- Footwear and advice
- Orthotic support – we provide a custom-fitted orthotics service and off-the shelf orthotics.
By correcting movement faults, you can walk or run more smoothly and lower the risk of heel pain returning.
Get Help for Plantar Fasciitis in Cambridge
Recurring plantar fasciitis can be incredibly frustrating, especially if it prevents you from walking, running, cycling, or enjoying your usual activities. The good news is that with the right assessment and treatment, it can be managed successfully.
At Cutting Edge Podiatry, you’re not just getting a standard assessment, you’re accessing East Anglia’s only lab equipped with Run3D and Walk3D, technologies pioneered at Oxford University and recognised as the gold standard in gait analysis.
In addition, we also provide a range of very effective treatments to treat plantar fasciitis, including shockwave therapy and k-laser therapy. If you need help preventing or treating plantar fasciitis, our experienced team can help.
You can book online or call our friendly team on 01223 633 038. No referral needed.
