Plantar heel pain is one of, if not the most common complaint presented to foot and ankle specialists, with upwards of 11-15% of the adult population affected [1]. It inhibits physical activity, often leading to a self-perpetuating cycle of weight gain and an inability to lose it through regular exercise

Pain usually presents upon initiation of weight bearing activities before subsiding, only to return as the volume of exercise increases. While not usually disabling, it can severely limit the amount of weight bearing activities a sufferer can undertake. 

The following have been identified with supporting evidence as the most common risk factors: 

• volume of physical activity
• body weight, foot posture
• ankle range of motion
• presence of anatomical variations of the calcaneus

1. A Solushin to improve your ankle's dorsiflexion/range of motion
2. Complimentary load management program (volume control)

This will address 2 of the 4 risk factors discussed above.

A reduced range of ankle dorsiflexion has also been linked to plantar fasciitis, with individuals with less than 5 degrees of ankle range of motion being 8 times more likely to present with symptoms consistent with plantar fasciitis [10].

So, why can a tight calf cause pain under your foot? Higher tension in the calf muscles pulls on the Achilles tendon, creating unwarranted stresses on your heel bone. 

The Solushin has shown, in a clinical setting, an ability to improve ankle range of motion by 21% in an hour of wear during low activity (sitting, walking etc). By wearing the Solushin for an hour a day, it can be expected that you will effectively improve your ankles range of motion and improve your dorsiflexion. 

To review the clinical research that was presented at the Sports Medicine Australia Conference yourself, please click here.

1. Rompe, J.D., et al., Shock wave therapy for chronic plantar fasciopathy. British Medical Bulletin, 2007. 81-82(1): p. 183-208. 
2. Toomey, E.P., Plantar heel pain. Foot Ankle Clin, 2009. 14(2): p. 229-45.
   
3. Johnson, R.E., et al., Plantar fasciitis: what is the diagnosis and treatment? Orthop Nurs, 2014. 33(4): p. 198-204: quiz 205-6.
4. Orchard, J., Plantar fasciitis. Bmj, 2012. 345: p. e6603
5. Buchbinder, R., Clinical practice. Plantar fasciitis. N Engl J Med, 2004. 350(21): p. 2159-66.
6. Cole, C., C. Seto, and J. Gazewood, Plantar fasciitis: evidence-based review of diagnosis and therapy. Am Fam Physician, 2005. 72. 
7. Cutts, S., et al., Plantar fasciitis. Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2012. 94(8): p. 539-542. 
8. Schepsis, A.A., R.E. Leach, and J. Gorzyca, Plantar fasciitis. Etiology, treatment, surgical results, and review of the literature. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 1991(266): p. 185-96.
9. Scher, D.L., et al., The incidence of plantar fasciitis in the United States military. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2009. 91(12): p. 2867-72. 
10. Riddle, D.L., et al., Risk factors for Plantar fasciitis: a matched case-control study. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2003. 85-a(5): p. 872-7.