This is why plantar fasciitis isn’t about a single stretch, a magic shoe, or an overnight cure. It’s about a consistent, targeted approach that addresses the root cause.

With the right plan, you can bring the symptoms under control, manage the pain and get rid of this pain for good—but it takes patience and the right steps. 

The good news? You already have everything you need to turn this around.

The biggest mistake people make is giving up too soon, often going at it for a short period expecting what has taken months to get there, to disappear, only to find it hasn’t gone.  

Check out our case study on how we helped w nurse with plantar fasciitis not only recover but run her first 5k..

https://www.francisconnor.co.uk/case-study-plantar-fasciitis-treatment-and-recovery/

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start making real progress, a proper diagnosis and a structured plan can make all the difference. You don’t have to do this alone let’s get you moving pain-free again.

Keep Well, Stay Active

Francis

A gait analysis is a way of studying how someone walks or runs to understand their movement and identify any problems.

Unless you’re in high level sport, running, athletics or football most people think of a gait analysis with a running machine with a visual interpretation of running technique.

In the world of elite sports there have been enormous advances in gait analysis with increasing use for maximising performance in sports, and in the clinical setting for rehabilitation and injury management.

The unit we use in clinic uses this advanced technology the RS Scan dynamic gait analysis, a unit that is used by team GB, premier league football clubs and running greats like Mo Farah. It uses special pressure-sensitive plates configured to measure how your feet touch the ground using 8 thousand sensors. This method is very accurate because it captures details like weight distribution, centre of pressure, how balanced your steps are, allowing the identification of limitations and instability during the gait cycle when you walk or run. It gives exact numbers and pictures that help experts understand your movement for better outcomes backed by science rather than guesswork.   

What triggers sciatica?

Now that’s a great question! As Sciatica is not actually a diagnosis—it’s just a sign that something is irritating the sciatic nerve.

The real question is, what is triggering the tissue that’s pressing on or irritating the nerve? 

Some reasons for the sciatic irritation being triggered are inflammation, spinal stenosis, joint or muscle, most of which require expert assessment. A common reason presented to clinic is a bulging disc. The discs are the shock absorbers between your vertebral bones that allow movement, if you damage one it can bulge outwards leading to pain by compressing the nerve.

But…

What triggered the bulge?

This may be something simple like sneezing, picking a pen up of the floor, getting out the car or even getting the shopping out of the car!

So we know what we were doing when we felt the pain but why would something so light and innocuous that we do everyday lead to severe pain?.

Now we’re getting somewhere, because the next question is the why!

If you are strong, mobile and flexible with good technique the risk of a sciatic irritation is significant less, this is where your focus needs to be!

Think of it like this, if you cannot touch your toes putting shoes and socks on will be difficult, if you cannot squat getting in and out of a car, off from the settee and even the toilet can be an issue.

Once you understand the trigger, you can find ways to help your body heal and prevent the pain from coming back!

If you have a 2 year old son, niece or grandchild and you struggle picking them up, you have a couple of options: 

• Do not pick up.
• Improve strength so the weight is not an issue.
• Improve flexibility so picking up from floor to hip height is not a strain on the body.
• Reduce the weight lifted but this is not an option with a child who has never read the manual handling guidelines and just gets heavier by the day.
• Improve technique, this will reduce uneven tension on the body.

For most the first is not an option, the rest are the ones to work on.

Your abilities must match the demands placed on your body because if they don’t it’s not a case of if you get injured, but when!,  outside of the ‘common cold’ back pain is one of the biggest presentations to osteopaths, chiropractors and GP’s.

If you’re struggling with foot pain or you’ve been to the GP, osteopath or podiatrist with a foot injury, you’ve probably considered orthotics or been recommended them.

But…

How much do custom orthotics cost? And are they worth the investment?

When anyone is in the market for insole and orthotics, they will search the internet and a vast array of types will be listed, predominantly off the shelf insoles. The truth is, off the shelf is guess work and mainly for comfort they are not an orthotic which has a specific action or clinical reasoning, I mean how could they? They have never seen your feet. While non-custom insoles may seem like a cheaper option upfront, they often lead to wasted money, time, and even increased injury risk. In contrast, 3D custom orthotics are specifically designed for your feet without guess work, ensuring better support, comfort, and long-term value. 

The Real Cost of Non-Custom Orthotics 

Over the counter are often purchased with hope, hope for relief without the higher cost of custom orthotics. These mass-produced options range from £20 to £100 and trainers can be £100 to £300 plus. Serious trainers and are changed every few hundred miles depending on there use, but they come with a big downside, they’re based on guesswork.

This is because the data capture is limited to visual interpretation, non-existent or simply the sales blurb from the seller.  

There is no guarantee they’ll work, because quite simply they don’t account for your unique foot structure. 

How long they last can vary on usage, but 3-6 months is not uncommon, leading to repeated expenditure and cost. 

No matter what you put in your shoe there will be functional changes in how the foot contacts the ground impact’s function, getting it wrong can lead to potential for further injury. The wrong trainer with the wrong support worsens existing problems, leading to time off training with a reduction in your favourite sports with the addition of costly treatment bills as the need for osteopathy and physiotherapy may be required.

In short, non-custom orthotics initially are cheaper at first, but they can cost significantly more over time with little positive impact and not the desired result.

The Cost of Custom Orthotics 

Custom orthotics are prescribed with a specific reason and a long-term investment in your foot health, produced on how your foot moves providing the correct support and stability. 

Here’s what you can expect when considering custom 3D print orthotics 

A Cost Range for custom orthotics typically cost between £280 and £600. 

They are produced from advanced technology provided by 3D scanning and pressure mapping ensure a perfect fit. 

Come with a 2 year guarantee (the orthotics we provide) offering longevity making them more cost-effective over time. 

Clinically they are prescribed with a clinical application or for performance designed to alleviate pain, improve posture, and optimise ground contact preventing future issues whilst improving function. 

So Why Are Custom 3D Orthotics Are Worth It 

In enhance custom made orthotics are high-quality without the trial-and-error of cheaper alternatives.

They are tailored to your unique foot structure with no guesswork. 

Come with a 2year guarantee providing years of reliable support. 

Designed with purpose to prevent and treat conditions like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and to improve performance as use by great athletes  Mo Farah, Paula Radcliffe, GB athletes and premier league football clubs. 

If you are experiencing foot pain or other injuries and thinking of orthotics book your Gait Analysis and we will answer the questions you have…

Keep Well, Stay Active

Francis

Sciatica is the name given to the irritation of the sciatic nerve and whilst we can test if the nerve is irritated, it’s important to note this is not a diagnosis of what is causing sciatic nerve irritation, if you have any pain from this test you need to talk to an osteopath or your health care professional.

The test is called a slump test, a commonly used clinical assessment used to evaluate the presence of neural tension, particularly in cases of sciatica. This is a step-by-step instructional sequence for performing the slump test, which can effectively assess for signs of nerve root irritation or compression.

Clinically there are additional ques and assistance from the therapist but it’s a good indicator. Do note not all pain in the leg is sciatica despite what Google or your friends may say.

Equipment Needed

• A chair

Preparation

1. Positioning: sit on the edge of the chair with your feet on the floor. Ensure you are comfortable and relaxed.

Test Procedure

1. Initial Position: be sit upright with your hands resting on your thighs.
2. Slump Position:
• Slump you shoulders forward while keeping your head in a neutral position.
• Round your back, bringing their chin towards their chest.
3. Leg Extension:
• Next while maintaining the slump position, extend one leg straight out in front of them, keeping the knee straight.
• Observe for any signs of discomfort or pain during this movement.
4. Neck Position:
• Ask the patient to look towards the floor while maintaining the leg extension.
• This position increases tension on the sciatic nerve.
5. Assessment of Symptoms:
• Ask the patient if they experience any pain, tingling, or numbness in the lower back, buttocks, or down the leg during the test.
• Note the level of discomfort and any specific areas of pain.

Interpretation of Results

• Positive Test: If pain or discomfort in the lower back or down the leg during the leg extension or neck movement, this may indicate neural tension or sciatica.
• Negative Test: If there is no pain or discomfort reported, the test is considered negative for sciatica.

Conclusion

The slump test is a valuable tool for assessing sciatica and neural tension however, it is an indicator but with proper assessment and interpretation can help in diagnosing and developing treatment plans for patients experiencing sciatic symptoms.

If any adverse reactions are experienced then these need to be investigated.

When it comes to walking, running or simply being on your feet all day foot pain happens..

Your feet are your foundation. Every stride you take impacts your entire body, and if your feet aren’t properly supported or poorly trained that impact can lead to pain, discomfort, and injury.

Many people turn to custom orthotics and with a quick Google search a whole array of solutions advertised can be seen..

Here’s the thing, anything ordered online that comes in the post, or off the shelf are not custom!!!

Anything that is based on visual interpretation on a running machine is not truly custom, and anything based on an a foot imprint is not a custom orthotic based on how you actually move.

—while they might offer some relief, they’re not custom-made for you and how you contact the ground.

In fact, they’re mass-produced, generic, and designed with a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

If it’s a little padding for comfort that’s ok, anything else is guess work.

You see, one of the most overlooked facts is, your left and right foot are rarely the same. Most people have slight differences in foot size, arch height, or even the way their feet hit the ground (gait).

These subtle variations can make a huge difference in how your feet function while running, walking or simply standing at work. A mass-produced insole can’t possibly take these individual differences into account.

The image shows using the latest in FootScan Gait Analysis technology how different the feet really are, this is what a custom orthotic needs to be built around..

Luckily…..

With 3D laser print systems, we can make orthotics using this data direct, creating specific orthotics based on your precise ground contact. Truly custom orthotics that take into account instabilities, stiffness, altered centre of balance and weight distribution.

Truly custom orthotics as part of a good treatment and rehabilitation plan maximise recovery and optimises performance.

It all starts with a stable base..

Check out this two case study of a patient demonstrating how we use this awesome technology to get our patients back active pain free.

https://www.francisconnor.co.uk/case-study-plantar-fasciitis-treatment-and-recovery/