Plantar Fasciitis

By Tim Wall MS, ATC

Plantar Fasciitis

Heel pain and foot arch pain is very common in today’s population. Additionally, Plantar fasciitis is sometimes used as a catchall term to describe pain in the arch or heel. Plantar fasciitis can also be used to describe inflammation to the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot. The purpose of the plantar fascia is to assist in maintaining stability of the foot.  Therefore, you want to learn more about this condition, please go to this Video by Dr. Vosseller.

If you are an athlete experiencing any type of foot pain, click here to read about common foot injuries commonly associated with athletes and how to choose the correct shoe for you.

How Do You Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

The quick answer is JOI and JOI Rehab have several treatment programs for pain related to Plantar Fasciitis.  Physical therapy to include:

–Stretching of the Calf and Achilles Tendon

–Night splints

–Orthotics or custom inserts in your shoes

JOI custom orthotics are a cost effective service provided at JOI Rehab.  We use a foot plate that you walk over so that the orthotic is specific to your own foot when you are weight bearing or walking.

–Laser Treatments at JOI Rehab.

JOI Rehab has 3 treatment lasers which can decrease the pain and inflammation associated with this condition.

–Graston Technique

The Graston Technique is for soft tissue mobilization is available at all 12 of the JOI Rehab Clinics.  These are tools used by specially trained clinicians to find soft tissue issues and scar tissue.  The Graston Technique is another modality to help in the treatment process for this condition.

–Strengthening exercises

Exercises in physical therapy can help to prevent a recurrence. A JOI Rehab clinician would show you the proper exercises to strengthen the muscles and tendons in the foot and ankle.  Weak intrinsic muscles of the foot, toes and ankle can often be the cause of this condition.

–Home splints 

Night splints can be used by patients at home while they sleep to keep the foot in a more neutral position at night.

-Ice

Ice can certainly help to decrease pain and inflammation in the bottom of the foot.  So, you can use an ice bag, an ice cup or a frozen plastic bottle.  A frozen plastic bottle works well because you can roll the entire bottom surface of your foot on the bottle.

Plantar Fasciitis With Tennis

Plantar Fasciitis is common with the sport of tennis mostly because of the shoes.  Tennis shoes especially on clay courts are flat on the bottom so as to not dig up the clay courts.  The clay court tennis shoe also then does not have a good arch support.  It is so important to get an orthotic for clay court shoes.

Here are some other common injuries with the foot by JOI Rehab:

• What are bunions?
• Bunion pain
• Ankle Sprain/strain

Plantar Fasciitis Related Articles

In conclusion, if you have an interest in reading more about this condition, please read these articles.

•  Treatments plantar fasciitis
• Plantar fasciitis pain
• Ball of the foot pain
• plantar fasciitis overview
• Home Remedies for heel pain

To schedule a new patient or follow up patient appointment with your MD, please call (904)JOI-2000, schedule online or click below.

Finally, to schedule an appointment for physical or occupational therapy, call 904-858-7045 or visit 12 area JOI Rehab Centers.