Plantar Fasciitis: Restoring Your Happy Feet

By Romeo Salazar MPT, ATC

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is a foot condition in which connective tissue at the bottom of the foot becomes inflamed and painful. The plantar fascia is fan-shaped ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. It supports the arch of your foot and acts like a shock absorber, helping you walk. It runs along the sole and attaches to the base of each toe. Heel spurs may form at the origin of the plantar fascia due to ongoing, repetitive stress or overstretching.

Plantar fasciitis medical illustration.

Individuals with this condition may experience:

Pain and tenderness at the bottom of the heel or foot.
Tenderness along the underside of the foot.
Aching at the arch of the foot and/or at the ball of the foot.

One of the most common symptoms of plantar fasciitis is heel pain, which is worse in the mornings when the individual takes their first steps.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is caused by overuse in which the plantar fascia is repetitively strained. It can also be due to joint, muscle, and bone activity that leads to foot pronation. Foot pronation is when the foot rotates inward towards the midline of the body and downwards to the ground. This can occur from excessive amounts of pronation or prolonged periods of pronation at the foot in weight-bearing. Also, individuals with high arches have the potential to excessively wear the plantar fascia. This occurs from the combination of a tight plantar fascia, decreased normal pronation range of motion, and poor ability for shock absorption at the foot when walking and running. Other causes of plantar fasciitis include repetitive jumping, overuse from running, a frequent change in the surface(sand or concrete), tight Achilles tendon, and poor footwear (little to no arch support or stiff soles).

Proper way to stretch the calf

Restoring Your Happy Feet at JOI Rehab

There are many Physical Therapy treatments for Plantar Fasciitis that can be carried out at JOI rehab. Modalities can be used in physical therapy to reduce pain and inflammation. In this case, they may include moist heat, ice packs/ice massage, ultrasound with or without medications, iontophoresis, soft tissue mobilization including Graston Technique, and medical laser.

Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Other effective treatments for prevention and care of plantar fasciitis include foot orthotics and arch taping. A good stretching program is also important to reduce plantar fascia stress due to a tight plantar fascia and/or a tight Achilles tendon. Your therapist or trainer may use joint mobilization to increase mobility at the various foot and ankle joints. Foot and ankle strengthening are also necessary components to plantar fasciitis rehab. Treatments by physicians may include anti-inflammatory medication, corticosteroid injections, and in rare cases, surgical intervention.

Home Exercise Program

A home exercise program (HEP) is critical for the successful management of Plantar Fasciitis. This may include: stretches for the muscles of the lower leg and foot, strengthening of the lower leg and foot, and modalities. Lower leg stretches include gastrocnemius (calf) muscle and soleus (deep calf) muscle flexibility exercises in non-weight bearing and weight-bearing positions. Foot stretches include big toe/plantar fascia flexibility exercises. Strengthening exercises may consist of heel raises and toe curls with a towel. Lastly, effective home treatments may include self plantar fascia soft tissue massage using a golf ball and ice massage after exercises. Before starting a HEP, please consult with your JOI Rehab clinician, who will give you an appropriate, comprehensive program with written instructions and illustrations.

**“Active Rest” in the Healing Process**

Individuals may participate in general exercise while resting the affected plantar fascia of the foot. This will benefit general health, overall conditioning, and healing. These activities should avoid any movement that requires the individual to raise up on his/her toes. Suggestions include cycling (do not pedal on toes), swimming, arm bike, and upper body fitness exercise.

Management and Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Management and treatment of Plantar Fasciitis can be comprehensive. However, it takes time, consistency, and effort by both the patient and clinician to achieve successful rehab results.

Image of Home Ice remedy for Plantar Fasciitis

Get started on seeking medical attention if you currently have issues with Plantar Fasciitis limiting your normal daily activities. Try to see a physician soon, if you have not already, and ask if Physical Therapy is appropriate for you.

Our knowledgeable and caring clinicians at our multiple JOI Rehab locations are ready and waiting to help you heal, restore, and get back to “Happy Feet.”

If you want to learn more about the home remedies for heel pain, go to home remedies heel pain.

Plantar Fasciitis

Finally, to schedule an appointment for physical or occupational therapy, call 904-858-7045 or call any of the 12 area JOI Rehab Centers.
So, if you need to see an Orthopedic Foot Specialist for a new appointment, please call 904-564-2000 or you can schedule online.

JOI & JOI Rehab

JOI Physicians and JOI Rehab Clinicians have developed integrated treatment plans for plantar fasciitis. Theses protocols provide improved outcomes for our patients.

Book An Appointment with a JOI Physician.

By: Ron Salazar, PT, ATC

JOI remains IN NETWORK with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Florida Blue: Learn More Here!