PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain and foot discomfort. It occurs when the plantar fascia — the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and supports the arch — becomes irritated due to excess tension or repetitive stress.

Plantar fasciitis often causes sharp heel pain with the first steps in the morning or after long periods of rest. While the exact cause is not always clear, conservative care is highly effective at reducing pain, restoring foot mechanics, and preventing long-term complications.

Conservative Care for Plantar Fasciitis

Our conservative plantar fasciitis treatment focuses on reducing inflammation, restoring normal foot and ankle motion, and addressing contributing factors throughout the lower body.

Most patients improve without injections or surgery through a combination of hands-on treatment, supportive modalities, and personalized movement guidance.

Benefits of Conservative Care for Plantar Fasciitis

  • Decreases inflammation to reduce heel and foot pain
  • Improves foot and ankle mobility and function
  • Speeds recovery without painful injections or surgical intervention
  • Minimizes the risk of further injury or chronic symptoms
  • Supports a safe return to walking, exercise, and daily activity

Common Symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis

  • Sharp, stabbing pain in the heel or along the arch
  • Pain that is most severe with the first steps in the morning or after inactivity
  • Tightness in the Achilles tendon or calf muscles
  • Discomfort after prolonged standing, walking, or exercise
  • Stiffness that improves with movement

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia absorbs shock and supports the arch during walking and running. Excess tension or repetitive stress can lead to micro-tearing, irritation, and inflammation.

While plantar fasciitis can occur without a clear trigger, contributing factors may include:

  • Repetitive impact or overuse
  • Reduced foot or ankle mobility
  • Poor footwear or lack of arch support
  • Altered gait patterns

Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to chronic heel pain and compensatory movement patterns that place added stress on the ankle, knee, hip, or lower back.

Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis

  • Age (most common between ages 40–60)
  • High-impact activities such as running, ballet, or aerobic exercise
  • Flat feet, high arches, or abnormal gait patterns
  • Excess body weight increasing stress on the fascia
  • Jobs requiring prolonged standing or walking on hard surfaces

Who Can Benefit from Plantar Fasciitis Treatment?

Our conservative care approach may benefit:

  • Anyone experiencing heel or arch pain, stiffness, or foot discomfort that limits daily activities
  • Individuals at risk of secondary pain due to altered walking patterns
  • Workers who spend long hours standing or walking on hard surfaces
  • Runners, dancers, and recreational athletes

Our Integrated Treatment Approach

We take a whole-body, non-surgical approach to plantar fasciitis care, focusing on both symptom relief and long-term prevention.

Treatment may include:

  • Massage Therapy: Reduce tension and scar tissue in the plantar fascia and surrounding structures
  • Corrective Exercise & Stretching: Improve ankle mobility, calf flexibility, and foot strength
  • Foot Mechanics & Gait Assessment: Address contributing issues in the foot, ankle, and lower extremity
  • Custom Orthotics: Support proper arch alignment and shock absorption during daily activity

By combining evidence-based techniques with patient education, we help relieve pain, restore function, and reduce recurrence.

Techniques & Modalities We Use

Hands-On Techniques

  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization to target plantar fascia restrictions and scar tissue
  • Stretching, strengthening, and kinesiology taping techniques
  • Foot Levelers® Custom Orthotics with advanced 3-arch support, crafted using precise scanning technology

Supportive Modalities

  • Compression socks to support the arch, provide cushioning, and reduce discomfort
  • Night splints to keep the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon gently stretched overnight
  • Infrared light therapy
    • Penetrates tissue to reach the plantar fascia
    • Stimulates cellular repair and energy (ATP)
    • Reduces pain and inflammation at the source
    • Enhances healing through increased blood flow and collagen production
    • Decreases plantar fascia thickness
    • Painless and non-invasive

Lifestyle, Prevention & Movement Modifications

Long-term relief from plantar fasciitis often depends on consistent self-care and supportive habits, including:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce stress on the plantar fascia
  • Wearing shoes with thick soles, proper arch support, and ample cushioning
  • Replacing worn-out athletic shoes regularly
  • Avoiding flat shoes, walking barefoot, and prolonged use of high heels
  • Performing ankle mobility exercises, such as Ankle ABCs — tracing the alphabet in the air with your big toe to improve ankle mobility and support rehabilitation

Ready to Find Relief?

Don’t let heel or foot pain limit your movement or quality of life. Schedule an appointment with Pinnacle Hill Chiropractic in Rochester, NY and start your path toward natural, lasting relief from plantar fasciitis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Plantar Fasciitis

Yes. By improving foot and ankle mobility, reducing soft tissue tension, and addressing gait and posture, conservative chiropractic care can significantly improve plantar fasciitis symptoms.

Most cases improve with conservative care. Injections or surgery are typically considered only when non-invasive options have been exhausted.

Some patients experience relief within a few weeks, while others may require several months depending on severity, activity level, and consistency with care.

Often yes, with modifications. Treatment focuses on reducing strain while maintaining safe movement and supporting recovery.

Not always, but custom orthotics can be highly beneficial for patients with structural or gait-related contributors to plantar fasciitis.

For additional information, please refer to our Patient Information page.