Plantar fasciitis is a common injury that affects the bottom of the foot. It can make everything from standing to walking difficult, significantly impacting daily routine and quality of life.

Natural solutions, including chiropractic techniques, can reduce plantar fasciitis symptoms and contribute to the healing process. 

In this post, we address the following:

• What plantar fasciitis is
• Common causes of plantar fasciitis
• How to help prevent plantar fasciitis
• Chiropractic methods to treat plantar fasciitis
• And more

If you think you may have plantar fasciitis or want to learn how to help prevent it from affecting you, this post is for you, so read on. 

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Running across the bottom of the foot from the toes to the heel is a thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia. This tissue is vital to proper foot mechanics, allowing for correct walking patterns, shock absorption, arch support, and more. 

When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed due to tension related to weight or pressure placed on the foot, it can be painful and cause plantar fasciitis. 

Symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:

• Pain ranging from dull to sharp, typically near the heel or arch
• Foot pain that’s worse after prolonged inactivity, such as your first steps in the morning
• Foot pain during exercise and while standing
• Difficulty raising the toes
• Swelling of the heel
• Foot stiffness or lack of range of motion
• Tight Achilles tendons
• And others

Plantar fasciitis can affect anyone, but those more prone to it are athletes involved in sports that require extensive foot use and those who work in standing-related jobs. However, there are numerous causes of the condition. 

Common reasons you may experience plantar fasciitis include:

• Wearing incorrect footwear for your activities
• Your foot’s unique mechanics or structure
• Poor posture or lifting technique
• An underlying condition elsewhere in the body, such as a herniated disc or arthritis
• Carrying excessive weight
• Pregnancy
• Regular wear and tear
• Being highly active with high-impact sports or exercises

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Many of these behaviors, activities, or lifestyles are unavoidable, but you can learn how to better support your feet and get the relief you need. 

How to Reduce the Risk of Getting Plantar Fasciitis 

While you can’t do anything to guarantee the prevention of plantar fasciitis, there are proactive steps you can take to help reduce the risk and recover quicker if you do find yourself with the injury. 

Natural tips to help avoid plantar fasciitis include:

• Stretch your feet daily
• If your feet have structural dysfunction, try orthotics
• Always wear the right shoes for your activities and avoid wearing high heels when possible
• Rest when in pain or your feet are tired 
• Apply ice to the bottom of the feet after high-impact exercise
• Discontinue high-impact exercises
• Control your weight
• Massage your feet

These tips can help keep your feet protected; however, if you suffer from plantar fasciitis, the best next move is to visit your local plantar fasciitis chiropractor. 

Visit Our Pittsburgh Chiropractor for Lasting Plantar Fasciitis Relief 

At Fox Chapel Chiropractic, we treat many patients suffering from plantar fasciitis, offering an array of proven, evidence-based chiropractic services. The feet take on a vast amount of pressure and need a heightened level of care to ensure you can return to your routine safely. 

After learning about your lifestyle, hobbies, pain points, exercises, and more, we’ll provide a detailed physical evaluation to create a healing plan that gets the most effective, efficient results. 

Chiropractic solutions we offer to treat patients with plantar fasciitis include:

• Chiropractic adjustments 
• Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)
• Myofascial release therapies 

• Corrective exercises and stretches  
• Lifestyle guidance regarding strengthening and proactive care
• And more

Our experienced Pittsburgh chiropractor has comprehensive knowledge of the body’s musculoskeletal system and how to heal it, strengthen it, and encourage its high function. 

Let us optimize your body so it can support your movements. We offer individualized take-home education that complements our in-clinic treatments so you can maintain your health and well-being and comfortably live life to the fullest. 

Contact us today; let’s get you confident in your body.