Shorten Recovery From Plantar Fasciitis Pain
Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. Symptoms range from a dull ache to a sharp, stabbing pain near or on the heel of the foot that can radiate to the arch of the foot. It tends to be most intense after periods of rest, such as prolonged sitting or sleeping and can interfere with both athletic and daily activities.
Plantar fasciitis can be both an acute and a chronic condition. It can develop gradually over time due to repetitive stress and overuse, or it can suddenly appear after an injury, sudden increase in intense activity, or new activity.
We frequently get asked, “How long does plantar fasciitis last?” The recovery time often depends on the severity of an individual patient’s condition, as well as the effectiveness of the chosen care approach, meaning it can last for an extended period if not properly managed.
However, healing and recovery time can be dramatically reduced with sports chiropractic care.
Initial Phase – Pain Reduction and Inflammation Control
While identifying and eliminating aggravating activities is important in the initial phase, sports chiropractic care favors an active recovery protocol over total rest.
At DTX Sports Medicine, we recommend specialized therapies to lengthen and strengthen the plantar fascia such as:
Soft tissue therapy (massage, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, trigger point therapy)
Myofascial release of calf muscles and foot musculature
Manual adjustments of the spine and/or the many small bones and joints of the foot
Biomechanics assessment of gait and other foot-related movement patterns
Taping (kinesiology tape or athletic taping for arch support)
Patient education on footwear, rest, activity modification, and home care.
Home therapies can include using ice to reduce inflammation (rolling the foot over a frozen water bottle can feel particularly good,) gentle calf and plantar fascia stretching, and avoiding walking barefoot or on hard surfaces after being sedentary.
Phase Two – Mobility and Flexibility Restoration
Once pain and inflammation are somewhat reduced, a sports chiropractic care plan shifts focus to improving tissue elasticity and foot mobility, as well as addressing contributing biomechanical issues identified in earlier assessments.
Continued soft tissue therapy
Joint mobilization (foot, ankle, possibly hip and lumbar spine)
Instrument-assisted adjustments
Custom orthotics assessment if needed
Introduction/progression of specialized rehabilitation exercises such as plantar fascia stretches with a towel, calf stretches (gastrocnemius and soleus,) toe curls, and foot doming exercises
Phase Three — Strengthening, Load Tolerance and Biomechanical Correction
The next stage of treatment involves strengthening the intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles to improve the load tolerance and movement mechanics of the foot.
Continued manual therapy and adjustments as needed
Focus on foot biomechanics and gait retraining
Address kinetic chain dysfunction (e.g., weak glutes, core instability)
Exercise progressions to resistance band work for the ankle/foot, balance and proprioception drills, eccentric heel drops, and a modified return to sport-specific activity
Final Phase —Return to Activity
The goal of sports chiropractic care is always to treat the underlying cause of athletic pain and achieve a full return to sport and activities, as well as to prevent the recurrence of injury.
• Maintenance care (1x every 2–4 weeks)
• Ongoing biomechanical assessments
• Education on long-term foot care and load management
With patient compliance with sports chiropractic therapies and home treatment protocols, a full return to usual activities with minimal to no pain is an achievable outcome.
If you are experiencing plantar fasciitis or any other foot condition that is causing pain or restricting activity, contact DTX Sports Medicine today.
Customer Testimonials
“I found DTX Sports Medicine after trying a lot of pain management efforts for a years long foot injury. The regular visits to Dr. Brian have made a difference in my day to day comfort and lifestyle. It’s also worth mentioning the staff are incredible kind, communicative, and fun!” Written on Google Reviews by Rachel C.
“DTX will fix whatever you need fixing. They’re amazing and working magic is their normal. They worked out the tendinitis my son had in his achilles (that every other Doctor wrongly diagnosed). Now he can walk, jump and run pain free.” Written on Google Reviews by Angeline W.
