Red Light Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis
Have you ever experienced plantar fasciitis? This blog explains what plantar fasciitis is, how to recognise the symptoms, what causes plantar fasciitis, the commonly recommended self-help treatments, and how Red Light Therapy (also known as photobiomodulation) can help relieve the pain and inflammation to accelerate recovers from this debilitating injury.
What is Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is pain which is felt on the bottom of your foot, around the heel and the arch. It is caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue on the bottom of the foot which connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch. It's one of the most common causes of heel pain. The fascia becomes inflamed, swollen and irritated.
How do I know if it is plantar fasciitis
The pain is usually felt when you first put your foot on the floor after resting, most commonly when getting up in the morning after sleeping.
The pain generally feels better after exercise but comes back again after a period of rest.
Difficulty lifting toes off the floor.
What causes plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is commonly caused by overuse of the plantar fascia, the thick tissue that runs from the heel to the toes. It often occurs in runners, and people whose work means they are on their feet all day.
Overuse can be caused by:
Running or dancing
Standing or walking on hard surfaces for long periods
Wearing ill-fitting shoes which don’t support your feet properly
Being overweight
Repetitive high impact activity
Sudden increase in activity level
It is most common in adults between 40 and 60. Other risk factors are: flat feet, a high arch, tight calf muscles, or a tight achilles tendon.
Things to avoid:
Walking or standing for long periods
Wearing ill-fitting shoes
Wearing flip flops or backless shoes or slippers
Walking barefoot on hard surfaces
Common treatments:
Treatment depends on the severity of the condition, and there are things you can do to help relieve symptoms yourself.
Try to elevate and rest your foot where possible.
Use an ice pack.
Wear shoes with good arch support and cushioned heels.
Regular gentle stretching exercises such as: (see link)
https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/OP-033.14-Exercises-for-plantar-fasciitis-Oxfordshire.pdf
Visit a podiatrist.
Red Light Therapy (also known as photobiomodulation)
Red Light Therapy (photobiomodulation) benefits
Studies have shown (see below) that red light therapy used with commonly used treatments is more effective than using commonly used treatments alone.
Plantar fasciitis is a common injury and causes inflammation and pain and it interferes with getting on with day-to-day life. It is very difficult to avoid using the foot whilst it is healing. Like any pain or injury, it is our body’s way of telling us that we need to change something, to rest and to recover. Sometimes we need extra help to recover and that is where red light therapy comes in. It helps to speed up the recovery process.
You may have already heard about red light therapy as it has become more and more popular over the last decade to deal with pain, inflammation and accelerate tissue repair. You may already have a red light therapy device and not thought about using it to deal with the pain of plantar fasciitis.
Red light therapy (also known as photobiomodulation of PBM for short), harnesses the power of wavelengths of light which stimulates cellular activity and promotes the body’s own healing processes within the body. Red light therapy works on the mitochondria helping to repair the body’s cells to help them function more efficiently.
When applying appropriate doses of red light therapy to the foot in the case of plantar fasciitis, it helps to reduce inflammation and stimulate cellular activity, promoting the repair of cells, and alleviating pain. It speeds up recovery time by assisting your body to repair.
We recommend the Photizo Pain Relief hand-held rechargeable unit which offers the most effective dose for the management of chronic pain.
Find out more about Photizo Pain Relief using the button below.
Studies:
Parameters and Effects of Photobiomodulation in Plantar Fasciitis: A Meta-Analysis and systemic Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31107161/
Photobiomodulation a Promising Therapeutic Modality in Plantar Fasciitis.
https://www.jfasap.com/abstractArticleContentBrowse/JFASAP/18937/JPJ/fullText
Photobiomodulation Therapy Plus Usual Care Is Better Than Usual Care Alone For Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial https://ijspt.scholasticahq.com/article/90589-photobiomodulation-therapy-plus-usual-care-is-better-than-usual-care-alone-for-plantar-fasciitis-a-randomized-controlled-trial
Disclaimer:
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, treatment, or advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Find out more about how Photobiomodulation can help you by clicking the link below: