What is plantar fasciitis and how long does it take to heal as Vladimir Coufal is struck down with the unusual injury.
The 30-year-old West Ham United right-back has been out injured since our 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the end of last month.
Despite his poor form during the first half of the season, Coufal has improved massively over the past month or so, and we’ve really missed him over the last two weeks.
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The Czech’s absence was originally put down to a heel injury.
And now West Ham boss David Moyes has confirmed that the Hammers defender is in fact suffering with plantar fasciitis, as quoted by Football.London:
“Vladmir Coufal has got plantar fascia, I don’t know if he is going to be back in the week but he is improving. He is a boy who really wants to play. He’s desperate to get out and show what he can do but he’s got a foot injury. I don’t think he’ll be back this week, Vlad.”
I have suffered with plantar fasciitis myself, and it is particular painful and tender in different parts of the sole of the foot.
Not many people will be aware of what that particular injury is, so here’s the lowdown on what Coufal is currently suffering from…
What is plantar fasciitis and how long does it take to heal
Plantar fasciitis is sometimes called plantar fasciopathy. It’s the most common cause of persistent heel pain (plantar heel pain).
It is an injury that is caused by
- Being overweight or obese
- Having high arches in your feet or being flat-footed.
- Regular high-impact activities such as running, jumping or dancing. Around one in 10 people who run regularly develop plantar fasciitis.
- Running or standing on hard ground increases your risk.
- Spending a lot of time on your feet – for instance, a job where you’re standing or walking around all day.
- Wearing worn-out trainers that no longer absorb shock very well.
- Being pregnant – hormones associated with your pregnancy can cause your ligaments to relax. Along with the temporary weight gain, this can lead to plantar fasciitis.
Obviously the first and last points do not relate to Coufal. Consistent high intensity activity would most probably be the main cause of the 30-year-old’s problem, if I were to hazard a guess.
How long does plantar fasciitis take to heal
Worryingly, it can take up to 6-12 months to completely heal! There is no instant fix for Plantar fasciitis
Treatments can include physiotherapy sessions or steroid injections.
There are also specialist treatments available including extracorporeal shockwave therapy and even surgery in extreme cases.
Let’s hope that Coufal’s plantar fasciitis just goes away over time, and that his problem doesn’t take a year to get better!
How could the West Ham ace and his teammates help prevent injury in the future?
Prevention of plantar fasciitis
There are a few measures you can take to reduce your risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
- Wear good-quality, well-fitting trainers with good cushioning or shock absorption.
- Buy your trainers from a running shop, where you can get advice on the best shoes for you.
- Replace your trainers as soon as they are worn out.
- Avoid exercising on a hard surface.
- Make sure you stretch before and after exercise.
- Losing weight if you need to may help because being overweight is a risk factor.
Again, the last point doesn’t apply to Vlad, but perhaps he needs to see a specialist about getting better fitted boots? Who really knows…
What I do know is that this particular injury is somewhat of a mystery to the medical profession.
The University of Foot and Ankle Institute describe the problem as exactly that – ‘A medical mystery’. So it is clearly something that cannot be cured with a specific medication and it appears as though rest is the only real remedy.
Plantar fasciitis is obviously a rare and fairly not well known injury. Fingers crossed that Coufal returns to action for West Ham as soon as possible.
With Thilo Kehrer and Ben Johnson both proving to be nowhere near good enough for the Premier League, Moyes needs the former Slavia Prague defender back playing as a matter of urgency.
All information provided by Bupa’s official website.
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