Have you ever woken up with excruciating pain in your heel or foot? Do your symptoms worsen following prolonged weight bearing tasks? If so, you may suffer from plantar fasciitis, also known as a common condition associated with an inflammatory process in the bottom of your foot.
What Causes Foot or Heel Pain?
Fascia and tendons associated with the injury can be damaged by many different causes, including running, experiencing reduced ankle motion or having a high body mass index. It can also occur from poor foot positioning causing the structures in your foot to be improperly loaded and break down over time.
Foot or Heel Pain Treatments
Once the foot pain has occurred, a physical therapist can help you reach a gradual and effective return to your day-to-day activities. Manual therapy and trigger-point dry needling in the calve muscles has been shown to help effectively treat heel or foot pain.
As a musculoskeletal specialist, a physical therapist can work to improve the manner in which the foot is being loaded up the chain (the knee bone is connected to the ankle bone and so forth). The therapist will also work to improve any weaknesses or imbalances associated with the breakdown of the painful tissues in order to get you back to your normal way of life.
Return to Living Life Your Way!
The ultimate goal of rehabilitation through physical therapy is helping you return to full activity, so you can live your life doing what you love to do. If you are suffering from heel or foot pain, contact your local SetPT therapist today to learn more about the benefits of physical therapy!
Sources:
- MA Tahririan et al. Plantar fasciitis. J Res Med Sci. 2012;17(8): 799–804.
- RL Martin. Heel pain – plantar fasciitis: Revision 2014. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2014;44(11):A1–A33
