Plantar fasciitis

Who it may help

TAME may suit you if:

• you have had plantar fasciitis for more than 3 months
• you have tried physiotherapy, medication, orthotics or injections without lasting relief
• you want to avoid or delay surgery
• an ultrasound or MRI shows signs of plantar fascia inflammation

Understanding plantar fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of this tissue. It can be very painful and is the most common cause of heel pain in adults.

It is most common between the ages of 40 and 60 and is more than twice as common in women. It often affects runners and people who spend long hours on their feet. Other risk factors include being overweight, flat feet, limited ankle flexibility, prolonged standing and type 2 diabetes.

What happens in plantar fasciitis

Overuse or repeated small injuries cause tiny tears and ongoing inflammation in the plantar fascia near where it attaches to the heel bone. This leads to pain, stiffness and thickening that can last for months.

Common symptoms

• Sharp or aching heel pain, especially with the first steps in the morning
• Pain after long periods of standing or walking
• Tenderness or swelling under the heel

Usual treatments

• Rest, ice and stretching exercises
• Orthotics or heel pads
• Physiotherapy
• Anti-inflammatory medication or injections

If pain lasts beyond 3–6 months, these treatments may no longer give enough relief.

A newer option: TAME

Transarterial microembolisation (TAME), also called plantar fasciitis embolisation, is a minimally invasive, image-guided treatment. It targets abnormal blood vessels that develop around the inflamed fascia and keep the pain going.

Selectively blocking these tiny vessels aims to reduce inflammation and let the tissue heal, and for some people gives lasting relief.

How the procedure is performed

1. The procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist.
2. It is done under local anaesthetic with mild sedation.
3. A tiny catheter is inserted into an artery, usually in the groin or ankle.
4. Using live X-ray guidance, the catheter is passed to the arteries supplying the plantar fascia.
5. Tiny particles are injected to block the abnormal vessels while keeping normal circulation.
6. The procedure usually takes about 30 minutes, and you go home the same day.

Access through the artery at the top of the thigh · 1 of 4

Enlarge illustration

Benefits

• No surgical incision, and a local anaesthetic rather than a general anaesthetic
• Most people return to light activity within days
• Pain often begins to improve within days to weeks
• Many people have lasting improvement in pain, walking and stiffness
• May help avoid surgery (such as plantar fasciotomy) or reduce reliance on long-term medication

After the procedure

• Most people go home the same day.
• Light activities can resume within a few days.
• Pain usually improves gradually over several weeks.
• Physiotherapy and stretching exercises may help recovery.