Plantar Fasciitis: Our Unique Approach

Plantar fasciitis has a very low success rate for traditional care. The plantar fascia can get inflamed and damaged and the cause is the chronic irritation of the arch of the foot due to excessive strain. Taking OTC pain medication just isn’t enough for advanced or atypical cases. Patients are often given pain medication and an orthotic at best. While this may help the simple cases, many people still suffer. I will list how we approach these types of cases.

Laser Therapy
Laser therapy can significantly reduce pain and inflammation. It can also stimulate the formation of new collagen tissue in the damaged tissue. We may laser the bottom of the foot for 3-6 minutes and then laser the spinal nerve root that controls the bottom of the foot. The purpose of this is to alter the neurological healing of the area. It may take up to 10 laser sessions. That’s the protocol that works best.

Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger points within the muscles are the primary culprits in unresolved cases. These muscles are in the back of the calf but all the tendons insert into the bottom of the foot. All trigger points of the lower leg have to be removed for lasting relief of plantar fasciitis because these trigger points alter how you move the foot. It can take between 6-10 sessions to resolve most trigger points. We do this in conjunction with the laser therapy.
All the muscles from the lumbar spine down are worked on.

Night Splints
Night splints can be purchased at local drug store. Several nights of wearing it is required before a difference is noted.

Home Care
Many things need to be done by the patient at home to help heal plantar fasciitis. You can get a foam roller, tennis ball and golf ball. You will use the golf ball to roll the bottom of the foot on. You can do this 3-5 times per day. It only takes 60 seconds per area. The key is to do it frequency for a short period of time (3-5 times per day for 60 seconds each area) rather than doing a lot all at once. The tennis ball can be used to for the back of the calf and buttocks and the foam roller can be used for the thigh.

Wobble boards are great for rebuilding the smaller stabilization muscles of the foot. It’s fun to exercise this way and only takes a couple of minutes per day. You should not do this until the trigger points are gone in the leg and foot (usually by the 6-10th visit).

Adjustments
To reduce strain on the bottom of the foot, we may adjust the foot, knee, hip or lower back. This is key to making sure that the joints that the plantar fascia is attached to are movable. Lack of movement in the joints of the foot can negate all the efforts previously mentioned.

Most of these therapies are outside the standard, traditional treatment of pain medications and arch supports. In advanced cases, a more aggressive approach is needed.