What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
The "Plantar fascia" is a fibrous band running from the under surface of your heel to the ball of your foot.
A painful inflammation of this tissueoccurs by chronic over stretching.
Plantar fasciitis is more common in women. People who place excessive stress on their feet by being overweight or participating in endurance sports are more likely to develop the condition as well. Wearing shoes without adequate arch supports, including sandals or going barefoot, increases your chance of developing plantar fasciitis. Wearing highheeled shoes or boots may contribute to the problem.
What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis often develops gradually due to repetitive strain on the plantar fascia. Common causes include:
- Overuse from running, walking, or standing for long periods
- Flat feet or high arches
- Wearing shoes with poor arch support
- Tight calf muscles or a tight Achilles tendon
- A sudden increase in physical activity or weight gain
If you're dealing with persistent heel or arch pain, it may be time to see a plantar fasciitis chiropractor. At our Battle Creek clinic, Dr. Yockey takes a personalized approach to identify what's causing your discomfort and how to relieve it — whether it's related to posture, footwear, or movement habits.
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
The most common symptom of Plantar Fasciitis is pain in the heel or arch when standing up after inactivity, particularly first thing in the morning. When you are sleeping, the arch is in a relaxed and the plantar fascia is able to heal. When you stand up first thing in the morning, you stretch the fascia, once again tearing it away from its attachment on the heel. You may notice some tenderness when you touch your heel, and patients often have tight calf muscles as well.
Plantar Fasciitis Stretches and Home Care Tips
Along with in-office care, your recovery from plantar fasciitis can benefit greatly from consistent at-home stretches and self-care strategies:
- Calf stretches: Stretch your calf muscles several times per day to reduce tension on the plantar fascia.
- Towel curls: Strengthen your foot muscles by scrunching a towel with your toes.
- Foot rolling: Gently roll the bottom of your foot over a frozen water bottle or massage ball to reduce inflammation.
- Avoid walking barefoot: Wear supportive shoes, even around the house.
- Supportive footwear: Choose shoes with proper arch support and cushioning to take pressure off the heel.
When these exercises are combined with professional care from a chiropractor for plantar fasciitis, recovery can happen faster and with longer-lasting relief. We’ll show you how to support your feet at home while we work on the root causes in the clinic.
How Our Chiropractor Treats Plantar Fasciitis
Getting you back to normal as soon as possible is our number one goal. To do that, we will likely recommend one or more of the following:
- Elastic Therapeutic Tape to support your foot and decrease pain and swelling.
- Therapy modalities to ease your muscle tightness, pain and swelling.
- Myofascial release to remove your longstanding tightness.
- Therapeutic stretching to restore your flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your foot pain hasn’t improved with rest, stretches, or over-the-counter solutions, it’s time to see a chiropractor. Early care can prevent long-term damage and get you back to moving comfortably.
Recovery time varies, but most people start feeling relief within a few weeks to a few months. Consistent chiropractic care, proper stretching, and supportive footwear can speed up the healing process. Chronic cases may take longer but are still treatable.
Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic heel pain and altered walking patterns, which may cause problems in the knees, hips, or back over time. Early treatment is key to preventing long-term damage and discomfort.
