Plantar fasciitis treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

At Maple, we proudly prioritize privacy as a cornerstone of our virtual care services. We strictly adhere to privacy and healthcare legislation in Canada, such as PIPEDA and PHIPA regulations, to ensure patients' personal and health information remains completely private and safeguarded.

Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, you can. The healthcare provider will want to discuss your medical history and the symptoms or signs of plantar fasciitis you’re experiencing. They’ll also likely want to complete a physical exam before offering a plantar fasciitis diagnosis.

Once you have a diagnosis for plantar fasciitis, the healthcare provider can suggest appropriate plantar fasciitis treatments, depending on the severity of your condition.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications for plantar fasciitis online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription for plantar fasciitis, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

Plantar fasciitis is the name for inflammation of the thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot. This tissue, also known as the plantar fascia, connects the heel bone to the toes.

This is one of the most common causes of heel pain, especially in middle aged people or people who are on their feet a lot.

The most common symptom or sign of plantar fasciitis is a sharp stabbing pain in the heel of the foot. It can occur in one foot or in both.

This pain is particularly bad during the first few steps after waking up in the morning. It may get better after a few steps are taken, or it may get worse as the day goes on.

People experiencing signs of plantar fasciitis may notice that the pain worsens when climbing stairs, or after standing for an extended period of time.

Pain is usually worse after exercising, rather than while performing physical activities.

Plantar fasciitis is caused by straining the ligament that supports the arch of your foot, which is shaped like a bowstring.

When tension and stress become too strong, it can cause small tears in the ligament. Repeated tears or stretches can inflame or irritate the plantar fascia, causing plantar fasciitis.

However, in many cases, the direct cause of plantar fasciitis is unknown.

Normally, a healthcare provider will be able to offer a plantar fasciitis diagnosis after evaluating your medical history and performing a physical examination.

Most of the time, no imaging tests are needed. However, in some rare cases, the healthcare provider may suggest an X-ray or MRI to confirm your plantar fasciitis diagnosis and rule out alternative causes.

Once the healthcare provider can provide a diagnosis, they’ll be able to suggest appropriate plantar fasciitis treatments, based on the severity of your condition.

The type of plantar fasciitis treatments the doctor suggests could vary depending on the person, and the severity of their condition.

There are some therapies the healthcare provider may suggest as plantar fasciitis treatments, including:

• Rest and ice
• Stretching of the calf and plantar fascia (can be done at home)
• Avoiding use of flat shoes or walking barefoot
• Using heel cup inserts (gel, prefabricated)
• Short course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (2-3 weeks)
• Injection of glucocorticoid and local anesthetic
• Physical therapy
• Reduction in aggravating activities (dancing, running, jumping, etc.)
• Steroid injections

If you’ve been getting unexplained pains in your heel, you should consider talking to a healthcare provider. You could be showing signs of plantar fasciitis.

The healthcare provider will be able to assess your condition, provide a plantar fasciitis diagnosis, as well as any treatments you might need. This includes any prescription plantar fasciitis medications that may be recommended to ease your pain.

A healthcare provider from Maple can help you find solutions for your pain symptoms, so you can get back to enjoying life.