OK, so there’s really no such thing as a miracle cure. In fact, you should be wary of anyone making these promises with anything that has to do with your health and wellness.
But there are treatments that can offer relief fast. And the one that often surprises people most is physical therapy for plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is a common problem involving the bottom of the foot. When the band of tissue connecting the toes to the heel becomes inflamed, it can lead to intense pain — usually in the heel.
At Premier Foot and Ankle Center, our team offers numerous solutions for plantar fasciitis. But one of the best ways to solve this problem involves physical therapy.
Do you have plantar fasciitis? Here’s how physical therapy could solve the problem for good.
As mentioned above, this condition involves a band of tough tissue on the bottom of the foot, specifically the plantar fascia.
The plantar fascia helps with proper foot mechanics while you walk and offers support to the arch.
As you might suspect, the plantar fascia also takes a lot of abuse every day, especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet.
Common causes of plantar fasciitis include:
Even the surface you stand, walk, or run on can irritate the plantar fascia.
In many cases, plantar fasciitis symptoms develop slowly, often near the heel. But they can also come on suddenly, especially after you’ve jumped from heights or missed a step.
When you have plantar fasciitis, it’s common for symptoms to be more severe after long periods of inactivity — like getting up in the morning. In some cases, symptoms can ease with activity but also worsen after extended or vigorous movement.
It often surprises people to hear physical therapy can provide quick relief for plantar fasciitis pain, especially since it can develop from overuse.
But stretching and strengthening parts of your body associated with the plantar fascia can actually reduce inflammation and ease stress on the ligament.
Plus, physical therapy offers benefits, like improving movement, increasing endurance and neuromuscular control, and correcting muscle imbalances.
All of these improvements help increase support of the foot and arch, which in turn reduces stress on the plantar fascia.
Exercises shown to improve plantar fasciitis symptoms include:
After assessing your feet and evaluating your condition, we can provide additional information on how to incorporate these exercises into your treatment strategy.
In addition to physical therapy, we could also recommend orthotic shoe inserts or different footwear to provide better support.
For severe symptoms that don’t respond to conservative treatments, we might recommend steroid injections or surgery.
Are you struggling with plantar fasciitis symptoms? At Premier Foot and Ankle Center, we can help. Contact our office in Worcester or Webster, Massachusetts to book a consultation today.
