How taping can help with Plantar Fasciitis/Fasciopathy and foot pain
As a Physiotherapist with a background in sports and running in Townsville, I like this style of taping. In fact, I think this is the most satisfying tape job to do on a patient, because if done correctly I can have someone who was heavily limping into my consult room, back to walking much, much happier. Although it is not the best looking example of low dye taping, below is an acceptable example.
Low dye taping can be used to relieve acute plantar fasciitis/fasciopathy (depending on what you want to call it) and foot arch related pains. In general, most runners who come in to the clinic with heel or foot pain will have either plantar fasciopathy, foot arch aches, tendinopathies or over overuse injuries (bone stress etc.). However, you don’t need to be a runner to develop plantar fasciopathy. The term plantar, refers to the bottom of the foot. The two main structures in humans that support the plantar surface of the foot and our medial longitudinal arch is our plantar fascia and our spring ligaments. These fibrous structures are what allow us to bounce, walk and run by providing that ‘spring in our step’.
Major causative factors of plantar fasciopathy include pes planus (flat feet), excessive foot pronation (feet and ankles falling inwards), running technique/ weight bearing activities such as prolonged standing, improper shoe fit and elevated BMI. This has a lot to do with biomechanics in regard to the foot and ankle function. If someone is particularly early or acute in their presentation of heel pain, low dye taping can be extremely effective by ‘reversing’ or limiting the poor biomechanics causing their pain. Rigid tape (brown tape) absorbs forces very well and does not stretch, thus by taping to support the plantar fascia and medial arch, we can correct your foot posture and significantly reduce the forces going through your painful plantar fascia and spring ligament.
Often, this tape can be left on for a few days to up to a week and can be repeated. This tape may just be the part of the treatment that reduces the pain enough that normal function can be achieved. However, I cannot stress enough that this treatment technique is not enough on its own and there must be a strengthening component to fully rehabilitate the problem, just as there is with all other tendinopathies.
Zachary Park, Physiotherapist
If you suffer from foot related pain, book an appointment with a Physiotherapist to seek a professional opinion Today.
