What is plantar fasciitis?
A thick sheet of connective tissue known as the plantar fascia stretches across the bottom of our feet, running from connection points at the heel of the foot to the base of the toes. The plantar fascia is under tension and works along with the intrinsic muscles and joints of the foot to provide arch support and absorb shock from walking and running. If the tension on the plantar fascia becomes too great for the tissue it can create small tears and cause painful inflammation. Some reasons for increased tension include overly tight calf muscles, arch collapse, and poor footwear.
How is it treated?
Plantar fasciitis can be extremely painful and limit your ability to participate in activities of daily life, but it can often be effectively treated without surgery or invasive procedures.
It is important to determine the root cause of the pain in order to effectively treat it, so we evaluate not just the foot and ankle but also the leg, hips, walking mechanics, and posture. From this, we can determine potential triggers of the foot pain and find solutions to decrease symptoms and encourage healing. After examination, treatment will typically include adjustments of the feet and ankles, myofascial release of the involved muscles and fascia, laser therapy to reduce inflammation and pain, kinesiology taping to provide additional support, and therapeutic exercises to speed up the healing process. While the length of the healing process varies based on several factors, most patients notice improvement in just a couple of treatments.
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