Alliston Has an Epidemic of Heel Pain!

The most common complaint we get in our office is heel pain!
People will most of the time say that it hurts for the first 5 minutes in the morning especially when getting out of bed. They often will say that it gets better as the day goes on...but after sitting down at lunch or after driving, or anytime after resting when the get up it hurts again!
Unfortunately we do have a lot of people that come to our office when the pain is constant and there all the time!
We can help!  Call our clinic at 705-435-3668!

Here are some home treatment advice of things you can do yourself to help!

Hot & Cold Therapy

Alternating heat and ice causes the circulation in the region of the plantar fascia to open and then close reducing inflammation. Heat is always applied first (5-10min) followed by ice (5-10 min) alternating for a total of 30 min two to four times per day. Frozen rollers (The Heeler) and gel packs (Cryo Blaze) work great for this therapy.

Strengthening Exercise & Stretches

Thera-band elastic resistance has been proven to increase strength, mobility and function as well as reduce pain. The Chiropodist may prescribe a series of exercises designed to stretch and strengthen the small muscles of the foot and encourage blood flow and reduce pain. They may include the following: Wall stretches, Toe Flexion, Ankle Dorsi/Plantar flexion, etc…

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis

• Over-pronated (flat feet) which results in the arch collapsing upon weight bearing.
• A foot with an unusually high arch.
• A sudden increase in physical activity
• Excessive weight or increased weight gain e.g. pregnancy
• Improperly fitting or worn out foot wear
• Overuse and excessive periods of standing (hard surfaces e.g. concrete)
• Increasing age

Plantar Fasciitis - Heel Spur Syndrome is the most common foot pain that we treat at the Simcoe Foot Clinic. This condition can occur in our athletic or non-athletic patients, seniors, students, office workers and those who work in construction and in factories.


The plantar fascia is a thick non-elastic band of tissue which runs from all five metatarsal heads and attaches onto the calcaneus (heel bone). Its main function is to maintain the medial longitudinal arch and stabilize the foot during the push-off propulsion phase of gait.

The problem begins when there is stress applied to the plantar fascia causing it to stretch excessively, pulling the fascia away from its weakest point at its insertion. This causes micro-tearing, localized inflammation and pain. Sometimes we can pin-point the cause of the plantar fasciitis e.g. increased or new activities, new fitness programs, new job, injury or trauma, and weight gain. Sometimes, however it will just build up over time and can suddenly appear for no good reason.

Often in chronic cases, as the fascia pulls away from the bone, the body reacts by filling in the space with new bone. This causes the classic “heel spur.” The heel spur therefore is a secondary x-ray finding to the tearing of the fascia and is not the problem but the result of the problem.

Custom Made Orthotics


Custom Made Orthotics are the most effective long and short term treatment of plantar fasciitis, which addresses both your present pain and prevents the pain from returning. Orthotics are custom made insoles, prescribed by your chiropodist to improve the alignment and function of the foot and most importantly, stop the micro-tearing of the plantar fascia with each step. These are made from three dimensional impressions cast of your feet, after a full biomechanical assessment and gait analysis. Just like prescription eye glasses, custom made orthotics come in different materials (soft & hard), designs, styles, shapes and corrections, to treat the patient’s condition based on such factors as activities, job environment and footwear.

Presure Gait Scan from Dr School's Not Reliable!

You should watch this video before wasting any money on Dr School's insoles!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeMOI2F-tPM

King Tut Wore Orthopeadic Sandals!

King Tutankhamun  might have worn some sort of orthopedic shoes specially designed to cope with his club foot condition, an investigation into the pharaoh's footwear has suggested.Even though the mummy had been X-rayed several times, it was only recently, during a major genetic investigation into King Tut's family, that researchers found a series of malformations in the pharaoh's feet. Apart from a foot bone disorder known as Kohler disease II, King Tut might have had seriously deformed feet which left him hobbling around with the use of a cane.
 http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/king-tut-sandals-orthopedic.html

Flip Flop Ruining Your Feet!

Unfortunately people are not wearing flip flops only around the pool but everywhere and all the time!
It is sad to see that every age group seems "addicted" to their flip flops! It's not just teenagers...
Read the article about Flip Flops!
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/look-great/beauty/are-flip-flops-ruining-your-feet

Can Fish Give You Softer Feet! Are those nibbles safe for your feet?

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/830236--little-nibblers-fish-pedicures-are-popular-but-controversial
Fish pedicure! Are these little "doctor fish" going to over take the podiatry profession?
Interesting article from the Toronto Star!