Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis in Washington, D.C.

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that occurs in the plantar fascia, a fibrous band of tissue at the bottom of the foot, due to over-stressing or overloading, and it typically occurs at the heel. It is the most common inferior heel pain and occurs in about 10% of the population. Symptoms often occur gradually over time or can come on suddenly following intense physical activity.

One of the most common and hallmark symptoms of plantar fasciitis is pain in the heel during your first few steps when you first rise in the morning, or when you get up to walk after a period of inactivity. Other symptoms include pain that worsens with standing or walking for a long period of time, pain with walking barefoot, or pain after an increase in activity such as running. Plantar Fasciitis can affect any age from 8 to 80 years old and its cause can be multifactorial. 

At Release Physical Therapy, we have a team of physical therapists who are well-trained in the treatment of plantar fasciitis with the use of research-based technology and treatment techniques to ensure you are receiving the best treatment. Our goal is for you to return to doing what you love without limitation.

Does physical therapy help with plantar fasciitis?

According to research, those who receive physical therapy treatment for plantar fasciitis recover more quickly. With physical therapy, especially at Release, you have a team of specialists who take the time to evaluate you to not only treat the pain that you are experiencing but also identify the cause of it. Plantar fasciitis can develop as a result of decreased mobility, poor mechanics, muscle tightness or weakness, etc. Identifying your particular cause and receiving personalized treatment to address it makes a big difference in your recovery process and return to activity. 

Patients who receive physical therapy treatment for plantar fasciitis have been found to have an improvement in their gait while walking, an increase in muscle flexibility, a decrease in their pain, especially in the morning, and an increase in strength. They also have fewer follow-up appointments with their physicians following treatment and lower healthcare costs.

What therapy is best for plantar fasciitis?

Physical therapy is the best line of treatment for plantar fasciitis, as the severity and duration of symptoms vary from person to person. At Release Physical Therapy, you have access to a skilled professional who can identify contributing factors to your symptoms and create a plan of care unique to you to address it. 

Another form of treatment that works for plantar fasciitis is something called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or Shockwave as it’s commonly known. This is a noninvasive treatment that utilizes acoustic shock waves to the plantar fascia stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. It is widely used to decrease pain and promote the healing of tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue that have been injured. This is a treatment that is offered at Release Physical Therapy and can be utilized alongside other research-based tools and treatments to aid in the recovery process of patients. Patients are evaluated during their one-on-one session with their therapist and the best plan of care is curated to achieve their personal goals and help them return to activity.

Should you massage plantar fasciitis?

Massaging the plantar fascia can be a good form of treatment to help with increasing blood flow to the fascia which can promote healing and decreasing tightness. 

Plantar fasciitis occurs on a spectrum from mild to severe and treatment for it depends on your level of irritability and the level of hindrance in functional activity. In milder cases, massaging of the plantar fascia before taking that first step in the morning and after prolonged activity can be a good form of management of symptoms till they improve. In more moderate to severe cases, massaging of the plantar fascia can provide temporary mitigation of symptoms until the patient can get in to see a provider. At Release Physical Therapy, we offer a wide range of treatment techniques and tools from laser treatment to dry needling and shockwave therapy to help with the management of symptoms and rehabilitation of foot joints and muscles for return to activity.

Does walking help plantar fasciitis?

For patients with plantar fasciitis at least in the mild to moderate cases, usually patients report that the first few steps in the morning and after long periods of inactivity are the worst, however, after walking and moving, symptoms tend to decrease.

What not to do if you have plantar fasciitis?

Some things that you may want to avoid when you have a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis include putting heat on your foot. The main issue with PF is that there is inflammation of the plantar fascia occurring towards the heel of the foot and heat promotes inflammation and this may contribute to worsening of symptoms. Ice is the better modality to use in the treatment of plantar fasciitis to calm down symptoms and decrease inflammation.

Another thing to avoid during recovery from plantar fasciitis is walking barefoot or walking in shoes that do not have good support. This typically leads to an increase in pain and symptoms associated with plantar fasciitis.

Does plantar fasciitis ever go away?

Yes, plantar fasciitis symptoms typically improve with the right treatment in good time. For some patients with more severe and chronic cases, ensuring that you receive the right treatment is imperative as flare-ups may occur. However, having a good physical therapist such as the team members at Release, can equip you with essential tools and exercises that help with the management of symptom flare-ups even after you’re better and have been discharged. 

Does rolling a ball under your foot help plantar fasciitis?

Utilizing tools such as a tennis or lacrosse ball is a great way to provide soft and deep tissue massage to the plantar fascia in a convenient way that helps decrease tightness in the tissue and helps to relieve symptoms. This can be most beneficial especially when symptoms are at the worst such as the first few steps in the morning, after prolonged activity of standing/sitting, or getting up to move after a long period of inactivity.