Plantar Fasciitis Recognition and Treatment

Laura Comtois PT, DPT

Fit For Life Physical Therapy


Plantar Fasciitis, one of the most common injuries for runners, is the inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick tendon on the underside of the foot.  This tendon attaches at the bottom of the heel bone (calcaneus) and runs to the base of the toes.  

Pain from plantar fasciitis may begin in the arch of the foot and progress toward the heel.  The inflammation is commonly at the inside of the heel bone where the fascia attaches to the bone.                                                                          

 
Plantar Fasciitis
 

What increases your risk of getting plantar fasciitis?

  • Limited Mobility:

    • Decreased great toe (the big one) extension – it’s ability to bend backwards, such as during push-off from the toes when running

    • Decreased flexibility of both calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus)

    • Decreased flexibility of hamstrings

  • Too much mobility - Over pronation.  Some pronation is normal, but too much can strain this plantar fascia

What can I do to prevent or treat the initial signs of plantar fasciitis?

  • Stretch

  • Support - For over-pronation, get properly fit for running shoes, or with an over the counter insole such as Superfeet

  • Strengthen - Given good mobility, strengthening of lower extremity muscles helps reduce impact through your leg and foot

    • This includes buttocks, hips, quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles

    • Maintaining muscle strength, flexibility, & balance is key.  Your Fit For Life Physical Therapists can help you with this strength, flexibility, & balance

 
Plantar Fascia
 

These recommendations reflect some of the basics about this injury.  As always, seek medical advice should you be experiencing painful symptoms.  

Fit For Life Physical Therapy helps people of all activity levels prevent, recover from, or rehabilitate sports and orthopedic injuries.  Help for active people - from OTHER active people.

Reach us by email at info@fitforlifephysicaltherapy.com, or call or text us at any of the phone numbers for our three convenient locations inside Fleet Feet/FrontRunner stores: 

Polaris Location:  1270 East Powell Road Lewis Center, Ohio 43035 - 614-981-2065 

Upper Arlington Location:  1344 West Lane Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43221 - 614-981-1979 

New Albany Location:  5792 North Hamilton Road, Columbus, Ohio 43230 - 614-581-7441