Plantar fasciitis is a common issue that can occur to the feet on one side or both at the same time. Plantar fasciitis is when there is tightening of the fascia, which is a thick band of fibrous tissue, along the bottom of your foot stretching from the heel to the base of your toes. One of the plantar fascia’s main purposes is to help support the arch of the foot when standing, walking or running. When this band of tissue tightens it can become more prone to injury due to overuse or overstretching it causing inflammation resulting in pain.
There are multiple reasons that plantar fasciitis can occur including:
- Repetitive motions resulting in over use,
- Weakness in the smaller muscles that help support the bones or structure of the foot
- Improper footwear
One of the main causes of plantar fasciitis is tightness in the gastrocnemius or soleus which are the two main calf muscles. These two muscles conjoin together to form the achilles tendon and these muscles are responsible for plantarflexing your foot or pointing the foot down. When there is tightness in these muscles it can make it harder to flex the foot resulting in more impact taken on by the plantar fascia.
Physical therapy along with other treatment methods such as ice and stretching are effective in treating this type of injury. Throughout the treatment process you will work on strengthening of the smaller foot musculature, ankle range of motion, lengthening and stretching out the calf musculature, & ankle and lower body stabilization.
Give us a call at 703-450-4300 or CLICK HERE to request an evaluation!
We offer physical therapy to anyone located in Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, and other cities in Loudoun and Fairfax County, VA.
