Plantar Fasciitis Physical Therapy: Everything about plantar fasciitis in 2024

 Introduction:

Plantar Fasciitis a common condition characterized by stabbing pain

 in the heel and bottom of the foot, can be debilitating. This pain is

 often the result of damage to the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that

 connects the heel to the toes.

The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that 10% of

 the U.S. population will experience plantar fasciitis at some

 point. Many of them opt for physical therapy as part of their plantar

 fasciitis treatment.

Plantar fasciitis can lead to a person experiencing “decreased

 strength and tolerance for weight-bearing movement due to weeks

 or months of having to limit their activity,”  “Working with a

 physical therapist to help rebuild strength and activity tolerance in a

 gradual, structured way can make a big difference.

In addition to connecting your heel to your toes, the plantar fascia

 also supports the foot arch. Plantar fascia supports activities like

 walking and running. However, excessive strain can cause small

 tears that usually occur close to where the plantar fascia attaches to

 the heel bone. These tears lead to inflammation and pain at the

 bottom of the foot near the heel and cause discomfort that’s most

 pronounced after a period of rest, such as after sitting for a

 prolonged period of time.

Physical therapy is an effective treatment for many people with

 plantar fasciitis. A physical therapist can suggest exercises to safely

 stretch tight plantar fascia and calf muscles, which can be a risk

 factor of developing plantar fasciitis. They can also provide

 information about biomechanics, which refers to mechanical

 principles applied to biological systems. An example of

 biomechanics is the way in which body parts, such as bones,

 ligaments and muscles, interact to achieve motion.

“Sometimes, dealing with pain for a long time can also change the

 way you move, so assessing those movement patterns and coming

 up with strategies to help restore normal movement is another big

 part of physical Therapy.

Research supports the role of physical therapy in plantar fasciitis

 management. A 2017 review in the Journal of Orthopaedic and

 Sports Physical Therapy found that people diagnosed with

 plantar fasciitis had a lower cost of care and faster recovery time

 when physical therapy was part of their treatment.

stretching and strengthening exercises taught by a physical therapist

 resulted in less pain and improved gait for participants with plantar

 fasciitis. Gait improvements include reductions in limping and

 optimizing factors such as speed and stride length.

Benefits Of Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Benefits of physical therapy for plantar fasciitis include “symptom-

relieving treatment from exercises like soft tissue mobilizations, joint

 mobilizations, stretching, strengthening and movement retraining.

A physical therapist also has the clinical experience to assess a

 client’s treatment progress. “Keeping track of changes in activity

 tolerance and pain levels over time is key for knowing whether

we’re making progress in we may keep track of how long you can

 walk without exacerbating symptoms. Often in [physical therapy],

 we also use measures of strength, balance or range of motion to help

 quantify improvements over the course of treatment.

 Plantar fasciitis physical therapy typically begins with an evaluation

 of your condition and potential contributing factors. Your physical

 therapist will ask questions and conduct various assessments, such

 as flexibility and range of motion tests, which may extend beyond

 the foot and ankle to surrounding areas like the knees and hips,

 “They will also look at your gait (walking mechanics) and posture to

 identify any other contributing issues.”

Having the initial evaluation is one of the most important parts of the

 physical therapy journey. This [assessment] allows both the therapist

 and the patient to discuss how the injury happened and what their

 goals are for therapy,

From here, the therapist can create a physical therapy program

 uniquely designed for their patient to not only help [them]

 with their symptoms but also achieve their functional goals.”

Physical Therapy Treatment Session Includes:

• → Stretching
• → Massage
• → Ultrasound
• → Strengthening exercises
• → Gait coaching

Home Exercises For Plantar Fasciitis:

• Rolling with a frozen water bottle: While standing or
•  seated, roll a frozen water bottle back and forth under the
•  arch of each foot for a few minutes once or twice per day.
• 
  
• Calf and tibialis anterior massage: While seated,
•  massage your calf from just below your knee down to
•  your ankle for several minutes twice daily. Do the same
•  for your anterior tibialis, the muscle next to your shin
•  bone.
• 
  
• Heel raises: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
•  Lift each heel off the ground while shifting your weight
•  forward to the balls of your feet. Keep your feet straight
•  and ensure they don’t turn in or out. Perform two sets of
•  10 repetitions twice daily.
• Arch stretches: While seated, assume a “figure four”
•  position with your knee out to the side and ankle across
•  your opposite thigh. Prevent your foot from turning in or
•  out. Hold your big toe and pull it up toward the top of
•  your foot so that you feel the stretch in your foot arch.
•  Hold for 20 to 30 seconds on each foot twice a day.
• 
  
• Calf stretches: Place both hands on a wall and one foot
•  in front of the other with your front knee bent. Lean into
•  the wall while keeping your back foot flat on the floor so
•  you feel a stretch in your calf. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds
•  on each foot twice a day.
• 
  
• Towel crunches: While seated, place your bare feet on a
• 
  
•  flat towel and use your toes to scrunch and release the
• 
  
•  towel. Perform two sets of 10 repetitions twice daily.

I hope this Article Information may help you to overcome condition like plantar fasciitis.