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Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain: The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Relief
Written by: James Gill BOst GOsC 6039. Registered Osteopath, Founder & Clinic Director
Medically Reviewed: Soula Henderson, BAFHP 18020807 HCPC CH037187, Registered Podiatrist & Foot Health Specialist
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Clinical Update: For years, chronic heel pain was managed primarily with rest and standard stretching. However, 2026 clinical protocols now lead with Focused Shockwave Therapy. While standard machines often struggle to penetrate the thick, protective fat pad of the heel, our Focused technology reaches depths of 12cm, stimulating cellular repair exactly where the fascia attaches to the bone.Insurance
Note: Most major insurers (Bupa, AXA, Aviva, Healix, Vitality) provide authorisation for Radial Shockwave. The high-precision Focused upgrade is available as a premium self-pay clinical option.
What is Plantar Fasciitis? Specialist Treatments for Heel Pain in London
Plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain, affecting the thick band of tissue (the plantar fascia) that connects your heel bone to your toes. When this tissue becomes strained or inflamed, it can cause debilitating pain that affects your mobility and quality of life.
At bodytonic clinic, we move beyond temporary fixes. By combining Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, Chiropractic and advanced medical technology like Focused Shockwave Therapy, we provide a comprehensive path to recovery.
What are the signs & symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis?
The most evident and common symptom of plantar fasciitis is a sharp pain in the bottom of the foot around the heel. The pain is common to be worse when you start walking after prolonged periods of resting, for example getting out of bed in the morning. For some, exercising and walking may help alleviate the pain, however for others this may exacerbate the pain.
Overall, movements such as standing up for prolonged periods, standing up from sitting and rising the toes off the floor can all trigger the pain in the foot.
What are the common causes of Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis can develop without an evident cause, but some factors can predispose an individual in suffering with plantar fasciitis. Risk factors include:
- Age: plantar fasciitis is more common in people between the ages of 40 and 60 years.
- Obesity: being overweight or obese puts extra weight and stress onto the plantar fascia. This is especially the case if there has been a sudden increase in weight gain.
- Posture and foot biomechanics: postural imbalances can affect the way weight is distributed between the two lower limbs and how you walk and stand up. As a consequence it can add more stress on the plantar fascia and cause an increase in irritation and inflammation to the plantar fascia. In addition, people with flat feet or a high plantar arch are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis because of the altered mechanics of the feet.
- Specific activities and occupations: people who spend most of their time at work walking or standing on hard surfaces are more prone to developing plantar fasciitis. For the same reason, runners or people who practice sports and activities which significantly involve the use of their feet (ballet dancer, gymnasts, football players) can increase the stress on the plantar fascia and develop the condition.
- Poorly fitted shoes: wearing shoes with poor cushioning or support may increase the risk of developing plantar fasciitis. Wearing high heel shoes also increases the likelihood of experiencing plantar fasciitis due to the uneven weight balance through the foot when wearing heels.
- Foot trauma: a previous history of foot or ankle trauma (e.g. ankle strain) that has not correctly healed may contribute to a change in the mechanics of the foot. Over time this may increase the risk of plantar fasciitis.
How is Plantar Fasciitis diagnosed?
During the consultation a precise case history taking of your symptoms and thorough physical examination will be taken to help diagnose and understand the cause of your foot pain. The area of pain will be assessed and the practitioner will feel for any tenderness around the heel and the arch of the foot which trigger the symptomatology.
Usually further investigations are not necessary for diagnosing plantar fasciitis. However, in some cases investigations such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be required to rule out any other conditions (e.g. fracture) that can cause similar symptomatology.
One radiological sign connected to plantar fasciitis is the presence of a bony spur in the heel. This is a small piece of bone sticking out from the heel bone. However, bone spurs can be asymptomatic and detected in people who do not present with any pain around the heel.
What are the treatment options for Plantar Fasciitis?
Conservative therapy is considered the main treatment option for plantar fasciitis and it can help people to recover in several months.
Overall, resting, icing the painful area and wearing wide comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole are very beneficial for reducing the pain and helping aid recovery. Even though pain relievers may ease the pain and inflammation, manual therapy is usually suggested in order to aid in a faster recovery.
In some cases orthotics (e.g. soft insoles or heel pads) as well as night splints may be prescribed in order to:
- Increase the support to the plantar arch of the foot.
- Help to equally distribute the pressure to the feet.
- Stretch the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.
Focused Shockwave Prices
Clinical 6-Session Course: From £720 (averaging from £120 per session) We provide this advanced medical treatment as a clinical 6-session course to ensure the cumulative dosage required for maximum effectiveness and long-term recovery.
The Benefit of Booking a Course:
- Save £60: Choosing the 6-session course secures a lower rate compared to individual Pay As You Go (PAYG) sessions.
- Fixed Saving: This £60 saving applies regardless of the practitioner seniority tier you select.
- PAYG Option: Individual sessions are available (from £130 per session) for those not committing to the full clinical protocol.
Note: Our fees are tiered based on practitioner seniority and clinic location. Exact pricing for your preferred specialist is listed on our booking portal. No £5 Weekend Supplement applies to any Course booking.
The fees listed above are “starting from” rates. Our pricing structure is tiered based on the clinical experience and seniority of the practitioner you select. Higher fees reflect their advanced expertise. You will be able to view the exact cost for your chosen specialist directly within our booking system before confirming your appointment.
Multi-Disciplinary Care for Plantar Fasciitis
At our clinics, plantar fasciitis is treated with a range of approaches depending on your symptoms and lifestyle. This means you’re not limited to just one type of care – instead, your treatment can combine:
- Osteopathy – improving foot, ankle, and lower limb mechanics through hands-on therapy, stretching, and posture correction.
- Chiropractic – addressing spinal and joint alignment issues that may place extra strain on the feet and plantar fascia.
- Physiotherapy – focusing on strength, mobility, and personalised rehabilitation exercises to support long-term recovery.
- Shockwave Therapy (Radial & Focused) – a non-invasive treatment for persistent plantar fasciitis that stimulates tissue repair and reduces pain.
This integrated approach helps ensure not only pain relief but also a long-term solution that tackles the root cause of plantar fasciitis.
Advanced Medical Procedures
In more severe cases or when conservative therapy is not consistently effective, other procedures might be recommended. They can include:
- Corticosteroid Injection: this is where steroid medication is injected into the tender area of the plantar fascia. It can provide temporary pain relief. Multiple corticosteroid injections of the plantar fascia is not recommended as it can weaken the connective tissue potentially leading to its rupture.
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy: this procedure consists of directing sound waves to the affected area. Clinical Update: Modern Focused Shockwave (FSWT) used at bodytonic clinic is now supported by NICE Guidelines (IPG113) for chronic cases.
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy: this procedure consists of directing sound waves to the affected area in order to stimulate its healing. Clinical Update: While some older evidence was “controversial,” modern Focused Shockwave (FSWT) used at bodytonic clinic is now supported by robust clinical data for chronic cases.
- Ultrasonic tissue repair: is a minimally invasive therapy which uses ultrasound to breakdown and remove damaged tissue within the plantar fascia.
- Surgical intervention: is usually a last response treatment. It is very rare for people to need surgery. The surgical procedure used consists of removing the plantar fascia from the heel. It is generally used when the pain is incredibly severe and other approaches have been ineffective.
How long does Plantar Fasciitis last?
Plantar fasciitis usually resolves within 6 to 18 months without treatment. According to BMJ Clinical Standards, 95% of people with plantar fasciitis are able to recover within 6 months with accurate precautions and consistent therapy.”
Can Plantar Fasciitis be prevented?
In order to help prevent plantar fasciitis from occurring there are few precautions you can take, these include:
- Avoid high impact activities: instead try to low impact exercises as this can help reduce stress to the plantar fascia.
- Weight loss: being overweight or obese is one of the risk factors for plantar fasciitis as it results in extra stress being loaded through the plantar fascia. Weight loss is therefore recommended as a preventative measure to plantar fasciitis.
- Choose the right shoes: avoid tight shoes, heeled shoes or shoes with poor cushioning or support. This is because poorly fitted shoes may affect the foot mechanics and distribution of weight through the foot.
- Self massage: to the plantar sole of the foot is a good way for releasing any tension of the plantar fascia. Rolling your foot over a massage or tennis ball is also a great way to release the plantar fascia.
- Strength and mobility training for the foot and lower leg: making sure you participate in regular exercises for stretching your calves and strengthening of your plantar arch, will help reduce your risk of plantar fasciitis.
What are the best exercises for Plantar Fasciitis?
Regular exercises focus on the calves and the plantar sole of the foot are considered a key factor for preventing plantar fasciitis. The best exercises involve:
- Toe movements.
- Toe lift: Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Begin by lifting the big toe by itself making sure the other toes don’t move. Repeat this 10 times. Then lift your last 4 toes keeping the big toe on the floor. Repeat this 10 times and try on the opposite foot.
- Toe abduction. Sit on a chair with your feet bare and flat on the floor. Try to lift the toes and then spread them. Repeat it 10 times.
- Towel toe curls. Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Lay a towel or a tissue on the floor and place the toes of one foot on the side of the towel. Try to grasp the towel between the toes and pull it toward oneself. Repeat the exercise 5 times, before switching to the other foot.
- Calves stretching: Stand facing a wall with your hands on it. Put the leg you want to stretch about a step behind the other one. Keep your back heel on the floor and bend the front knee until you feel your are stretching the back leg/back calf. Hold this position for 30 seconds, then switch legs. Repeat this exercise 2-3 times every day.
- Plantar fascia and calves stretching using the stairs: Stand on a step and be sure to hold on to the banister. Lower the heels over the edge of the step and keep this position for 30 seconds. Repeat it 2-3 times per day. You should feel a gentle stretch across the soles of your feet and the back of your leg.
- Roll Stretch: Place a tennis ball under the sole of your foot and roll it back and forth from the heel to the toes. Continue rolling until your foot feels relaxed then switch to the other side.
- Toe stretch: Place the toes up on the wall with the sole of the foot and the heel on the ground. Lean into the wall until the plantar fascia stretch is felt. Hold the position for 30 seconds and repeat it 2-3 times per day.
- As an alternative, you can try the toe sit position: Kneel on the floor and bring the knees and feet together and tuck the toes under. Slowly take your buttocks towards the heels and try to sit on them. Keep this position for 30 seconds and repeat 2-3 times.
Do I need to go to the GP or visit my local hospital?
- The pain is severe and it stops you from sleeping and doing normal activities.
- The pain has not improved after treating it yourself for 2 weeks (resting, icing the painful area, wearing wide comfortable shoes, stretching exercises).
- You have any tingling or loss of sensation in your feet
- You have diabetes, because foot problems can be more serious in case of diabetes
Osteopathy MSK Physiotherapy & Chiropractic prices
As outlined in our clinical protocols, please note that all pricing displayed on our booking portal represents our “starting from” rates. To capture the best clinical talent in London, bodytonic clinic operates a tiered pricing structure. Your exact fee depends on the seniority of the practitioner (Associate vs. Senior). We provide a Free Consultation specifically so you can discuss these tiers and your treatment plan without any upfront cost.
Bupa / Axa Insurance Accepted for Radial Shockwave*
