Plantar fasciitis is a common condition that affects one in 10 people over their lifetime, and two million people every single year. Your feet and ankles carry the weight of responsibility every day—that’s you! They endure your whole body weight to keep you upright and going about your day. When you experience chronic pain in your heel, it can be debilitating, making daily activities unbearable.
Main Causes of Plantar Fasciitis Pain
With plantar fasciitis, heel pain is commonly felt early in the morning and naturally goes away. However, it often returns after a long period of standing or inactivity when you put extra weight on your feet. Over time, the tissue that connects your heel to your toes (plantar fascia) loses its elasticity and becomes inflamed. When there’s inflammation, you’ll feel a sharp pain.
Anyone can suffer from plantar fasciitis, but according to the Mayo Clinic, it’s more common among the ages of 40 - 60. Runners and those who are on their feet all day are at a higher risk of developing symptoms.
Additional causes of plantar fasciitis and put extra stress on your heel include:
- Long-distance running
- High-arched or flat feet
- Exercising on a hard surface
- A job that requires standing for long periods of time
- Obesity
Even the shape and size of your shoes can lead to this condition, so be sure to wear shoes with good heel and arch support.
Managing Your Plantar Fasciitis with Physical Therapy
Repetitive stretching and stress on the plantar fascia create small tears over time, so high-impact activities like running or jumping will only make the pain worse. The best—and the fastest—way to recover is through manual physical therapy and low-impact exercises that focus on the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.
Regular physical therapy treatment will rebuild stability in your ankle and strengthen your tissue along the sole of your foot. But sometimes when life gets in the way, and we get busy, it can be hard to adhere to your course of care. That’s why with Luna patients have access to at-home physical therapy.
PT Treatments with Luna
With access to Luna’s on-demand physical therapy, you’ll get treatment when and where you need it. More one-on-one time with a licensed therapist dedicated to your treatment plan results in more success and better outcomes, improving the overall effectiveness of your therapy and leading to a faster recovery.
Your board-certified physical therapist will work with you to create a customized plan for guided stretching and strengthening exercises. As you improve your flexibility in the arch of your foot along with the muscles and tendons surrounding it, you’ll feel less pain and prevent your plantar fasciitis from coming back.If you have chronic heel pain and are considering physical therapy, find a therapist near you and learn how Luna can help cure your pain and improve your quality of life with physical therapy.
