Plantar Fasciitis Specialist

What is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a condition caused by inflammation in a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot. This band connects your heel to your toes. Plantar fasciitis pain can make staying active or completing simple activities difficult.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The most common plantar fasciitis symptom is stabbing pain in your foot near your heel. The pain can be worse when taking those first steps after waking up in the morning, but it can also appear when you get up from sitting down or standing for a long period.

Changing your walking patterns to accommodate plantar fasciitis pain can also trigger hip, back, knee, or foot problems.

What are the risk factors for plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis can happen to anyone, but some things increase your risk may include:

• Some exercises
• Repeated stress
• Being 40-60 years old
• Long-distance running
• Aerobic dancing
• Ballet dancing
• Poor foot mechanics
• Body weight challenges
• Physically demanding jobs

Getting regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing plantar fasciitis. In addition, maintaining a healthy body weight can also help to reduce risk. 

How does my provider diagnose plantar fasciitis?

To diagnose plantar fasciitis and develop a treatment, your provider reviews your medical history and symptoms. Then, they check your vital signs and complete a physical exam to evaluate your feet. They may also recommend diagnostic procedures like blood tests and imaging such as X-rays, an MRI, or other exams. 

How does physical therapy help with plantar fasciitis?

The TLC Physical Therapy team offers physical therapy to stretch targeted areas of your feet and ankles and to strengthen nearby muscles. They also show you ways to use athletic taping to reduce pain.

The TLC Physical Therapy team offers therapeutic massage as well. In addition, they help you choose shoes that better support your foot arches.

You can also apply ice or heat packs to painful parts of your feet, take medications, and wear night splints or orthotics (shoe inserts). To complement physical therapy, you might also need injections, shock wave therapy, ultrasound tissue repair, or surgery. 

To learn more about the benefits of physical therapy sessions for plantar fasciitis, call a TLC Physical Therapy office in Staten Island or Midtown Manhattan in New York, or Englishtown in New Jersey to schedule an appointment today. Online scheduling is also available to book.