How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, and unfortunately, it can be hard to manage on your own.

When your plantar fascia 一a fibrous band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes 一 becomes inflamed, it can hurt to put weight on your foot. Not only does this make it hard to jog or participate in your favorite sport, but it can also make the simplest activities 一 like walking from your bed to the bathroom in the morning 一 painful.

Our physical therapy team here at Orthopedic Specialists of Oakland County help you regain your mobility by treating the inflammation of plantar fasciitis.

Let’s take a closer look at what plantar fasciitis is and how physical therapy can help you with it. 

Do you have plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis tends to affect people who stand on their feet for prolonged hours, but it can also impact athletes, especially runners and soccer players. Plantar fasciitis happens when your fascia becomes overused, stretched, or otherwise inflamed. 

Risk factors include:

• Having flat feet
• Being overweight (which can put additional strain on your fascia)
• Standing (especially on a hard surface) for several hours on end
• Participating in any exercise that puts stress on  your feet, e.g., ballet, distance running, and soccer

Plantar fasciitis is notorious for causing stabbing pains in your feet. You may notice the pain is worse in the morning or when you stand up after sitting for a while. Before embarking on any physical therapy protocol, it’s essential to start with an accurate diagnosis, and that’s where our expert team of doctors comes into the picture. 

Plantar fascia is typically diagnosed through a comprehensive exam, a review of your symptoms, and an analysis of any x-rays (which can help rule out other conditions). 

If your symptoms are related to plantar fasciitis, our expert team of physical therapists recommends the appropriate physical therapy services to speed up your healing, increase strength and flexibility of your foot, and reduce your risk of re-injury (or exacerbating your condition).

3 ways physical therapy improves plantar fasciitis

Physical therapy is an umbrella term that includes exercises, stretches, educational support, and hands-on techniques that reduce pain and improve musculoskeletal function. 

1. Exercises and stretches

Exercises and stretches 一 also referred to as prescribed movement 一 can help you find relief in many ways. 

Stretching can help loosen  your plantar fascia enough to help prevent it from tearing. Passive stretches increase your range of motion and decrease foot pain. Exercising can help strengthen the muscles (especially your calf muscles) that help reduce stress on your foot tissues.

Our team curates the just-right-for-you list of stretches and exercises, but a few common exercises include tennis ball rolls, towel stretches, toe stretches, and toe curls. You may also find that picking up some objects, such as marbles, helps strengthen your feet.

As your plantar fascia heals, we may adjust your stretching routine and add different stretches to your routine as you progress.

2. Patient education

Not only do we teach you the prescribed movements that will support your feet, we also provide general patient education on plantar fasciitis. This includes at-home treatments that complement your physical therapy routine. 

Depending on your needs, we guide you with the at-home modifications that are best suited to your specific needs. This may include massaging your feet, using cold therapy, or trying toe separators. 

3. Hands-on care 

Physical therapy involves learning which exercises and stretches to perform at home, but it also includes hand-on care. Manual manipulation is one component of physical therapy in which we may stretch or massage tissues to promote healing. 

According to a 2019 journal article published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, manual manipulation helps treat plantar fasciitis by increasing plantar flexion, which is the movement of your foot in a downward motion away from your body. Improving plantar flexion is an important part of your treatment because it’s an essential movement in walking. 

Get the relief you need for your heel pain

If you suspect your heel pain is related to plantar fasciitis, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our multidisciplinary team is on a mission to help you get back on your feet sans pain, and we’re here to support you from the initial diagnosis to physical therapy and beyond.

Call our Bloomfield Hills or Clarkson, Michigan office today to schedule your appointment. You can reach us at 248-335-2977 or through our online form. Prefer to text? Send us a message at 248-955-2622.