Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

At the bottom of your foot is a band of connective tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes. When that connective tissue gets inflamed, you may start suffering from stabbing pains in your heel that make it difficult and painful to walk.  Though the pain often may decrease as you move around during the day, it can return and possibly worsen if you’re forced to remain on your feet for long periods of time.

Plantar fasciitis is especially common in runners, dancers, and people who don’t sit much during the workday, but it can happen to anyone. It’s also a common affliction in people with high arches or flat feet.

If you have plantar fasciitis, contact Greendale Physical Therapy today to discuss your situation and goals.  We have 4 convenient locations, in Shrewsbury, Worcester, Clinton, and Marlborough.  You don’t need to wait for your doctor to provide you with a referral: You can make an appointment right now, and we’ll work with your insurance company.  Or you can read on to find out more about plantar fasciitis. 

What aggravates plantar fasciitis? 

Plantar fasciitis tends to be at its worst when:

• You wake up.
• You are standing for long stretches of time.
• You run, walk, or exercise while your calf muscles are tight.

You might find that plantar fasciitis fades a little as you walk.  But in most people it returns after a walk or a run, as your muscles cool down again. 

What are remedies for plantar fasciitis? 

Either quick home remedies or long-term remedies – or some combination, usually – can help you get rid of plantar fasciitis.

One way to ease the pain is by massaging the tender area. You can use a tennis ball or a golf ball to ease the tightness and tension in the muscle.

You can also use ice and over-the-counter painkillers to ease the pain temporarily, and to reduce the inflammation.

If you’re prone to plantar fasciitis you might want to consider orthotic inserts, which can give your shoes more heel support.

Above all, rest and finding temporary alternative forms of exercise will do you the most good.  That, in combination with the short-term relief measures we mentioned, generally will help you get it under control.  Longer-term, the troubleshooting and strengthening that physical therapy provides should help you keep plantar fasciitis away. 

Will plantar fasciitis go away on its own? 

Some milder cases can go away on their own if you wear proper shoes and employ rest, ice, and massage (described above).

More-severe cases might need additional help and therapy, or assistive devices like sock splints that you can wear at night. Some severe plantar fasciitis cases can benefit from receiving a steroid shot in the heel to ease inflammation, giving you enough relief to work on the other steps of recovery. 

How does physical therapy help plantar fasciitis?

We can guide you through stretches and exercises that help you strengthen and ease the tension in the plantar fascia, as well as teach you exercises you can do at home to keep flare-ups at bay.  A treatment regimen may also include manual therapy (e.g. massage, Graston technique), postural evaluation, and guidance on footwear.

Physical therapy is one of the most reliable ways to treat plantar fasciitis for good, and working with us ensures that you won’t injure yourself further or exacerbate the condition further while trying to cure it.