Plantar Fasciitis on the Sunshine Coast: What Helps, What Hurts, and How to Get Back to Your Best:

Understand your heel pain

When I first moved to the Sunshine Coast, I couldn’t work out why I was suddenly treating so many people with plantar fasciitis. Heel pain was showing up again and again—often in people who were active, healthy, and doing all the “right things”.

Over time, a pattern became clear.

Life on the Sunshine Coast encourages barefoot living. It’s warm, relaxed, and shoes are often optional. Add in hard floors like tiles, floorboards, and vinyl planks, and suddenly the muscles and connective tissue in the feet are working harder, more often, and with less support.

These factors don’t just make plantar fasciitis more common here—they can also make it harder to settle if not managed properly.

What Is Plantar Fasciitis? (In Simple Terms)

Plantar fasciitis is irritation of the plantar fascia—a thick band of connective tissue that runs from your heel to your toes. Its role is to support the arch of your foot and help absorb load when you walk, run, or stand.

When this tissue is overloaded for too long, pain develops. This is commonly felt as:

• Sharp heel pain first thing in the morning

• Pain after long periods of standing or walking

• Foot stiffness that eases with movement, then returns later in the day

Why Is Plantar Fasciitis So Common on the Sunshine Coast?

Plantar fasciitis is rarely caused by one single issue. It’s usually a load management problem, influenced by a combination of factors such as:

• Walking barefoot on hard surfaces

• Sudden increases in walking, running, or exercise

• Reduced ankle or foot mobility

• Weakness through the foot, calf, or hips

• Lower back and/or hip tension

• Inadequate recovery between activities

On the Sunshine Coast, barefoot living and hard flooring simply place extra demand on already hard-working feet.

What Can You Do to Manage Plantar Fasciitis?

Early management can make a significant difference. Simple steps may include:

• Wearing supportive footwear around the house

• Avoiding aggressive stretching first thing in the morning

• Temporarily reducing high-load activities (not stopping everything)

• Addressing foot and calf strength—not just flexibility, isometric contractions are a great way to start.

• Rolling out the bottom of your foot with a massage ball (not a hard one, a lacrosse ball is a good size and density)

Understanding what’s driving your pain is key to achieving a better outcome.

How We Treat Plantar Fasciitis at Advanced Health

At Advanced Health Pain, Injury and Spinal Clinic, we don’t just treat the symptoms—we look at why your foot is overloaded and create a plan tailored to you.

Your plantar fasciitis treatment may include:

• Osteopathic treatment to improve foot, ankle, lower back, pelvic and lower limb joint mechanics

• Shockwave therapy to stimulate tissue healing and reduce pain

• Dry needling to release overloaded calf and foot muscles

• Exercise prescription to rebuild strength, resilience, and load tolerance

Our goal is not just pain relief, but helping you get back to your best—confident, active, and moving well.

A Better Understanding Leads to a Better Outcome

Plantar fasciitis doesn’t have to become a long-term problem. With the right assessment, treatment, and guidance, most people recover well and return to the activities they enjoy—without fear of every step.

If you’re experiencing ongoing heel or foot pain, our team is here to help.

By Dr Vin Cahill

👉 Book an appointment at Advanced Health Sunshine Coast today.