Radiation therapy for plantar fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a strong band of tissue that stretches along the underside of the foot, under the skin, from your heel to the middle of the foot.¹

This ligament normally acts as shock-absorber and supports the arch of your foot, but when it becomes overloaded or over-used, the plantar fascia can start to degenerate. This results in pain in the heel, known as plantar fasciitis.¹

In the early stages of plantar fasciitis, many people describe the pain on the bottom of their heal as a ‘bruise-like’ feeling. It will often worsen first thing in the morning, and after long periods of walking, standing, or on sudden movement.^2,3

Plantar fasciitis is a very common repetitive strain condition affecting around 10% of the population at some point in their lives, more commonly women. For most people, the pain is mild and improves with general measures such as rest, stretching, and changing footwear. However, in about 20% of people who suffer from the condition, the heel pain can persist.^1,2

Risk factors include:^1,2

• Standing for very long periods
• Increased body mass index
• Excessive running
• Leg length discrepancy
• High foot arches
• Reduced ankle flexion
• Sedentary lifestyle

Radiation therapy can improve the pain associated with plantar fasciitis.⁴ In general, radiation therapy is only offered to people who are still experiencing pain and discomfort after a minimum of three months of general treatment measures (stretching, changing footwear).

During your treatment, radiation is aimed towards the area of pain in your heel. Radiation therapy has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces inflammation around the area.

A technique called electron beam radiation therapy is used for plantar fasciitis. Delivered by a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC), it’s very similar to a regular X-ray.

Radiation treatments can be delivered in up to 5 sessions, with each session taking around 10 minutes. There may be some mild redness of the skin immediately following treatment, and some developing dryness as treatments progress, but these symptoms usually disappear over 2-3 weeks.