Massage Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Can massage therapy treat plantar fasciitis? You're understandably wondering if there's an easy, natural way to cure plantar fasciitis if heel pain is taking over your life. While some people might dismiss plantar fasciitis as simple "foot pain," anyone who has experienced this condition understands the torment that goes along with having inflamed bands of tissue running through your feet. In fact, it can feel like your muscles have been replaced with ribbons of sharp, hot metal.

When you have plantar fasciitis, the thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia that runs along the bottom of your foot is actually pulling away from the bone. As a result, pain and inflammation radiate throughout the affected area. If plantar fasciitis is left untreated, debilitating bone spurs will eventually form.

Do you know the telltale signs of plantar fasciitis? This is far more than just some mild foot discomfort. These are the most common plantar fasciitis symptoms:

• Pain on the bottom of the heel.
• Pain that increases following exercise.
• Pain that flares up when you stand up after sitting for a prolonged period.
• Swollen heel.
• A painful arch in the foot.
• A tight Achilles tendon.
• Foot pain that continues for months.
• Pain in the toes (rare).
• Ankle pain caused by an irritated nerve (rare).

For most people with plantar fasciitis, the pain starts from the moment they plant their feet down on the side of the bed in the morning. That transition from reclining to standing on your heels is often brutal. While plantar fasciitis is generally contained within the heel and foot, it's not unheard of for pain from this condition to extend to other parts of the body. Pinching of nerves caused by plantar fasciitis has been known to create ankle pain and swelling. It's also very possible to have back pain caused by plantar fasciitis. The simple reason is that we often adjust our posture to account for the pain. If you're avoiding putting pressure on your sore, inflamed heel, there's a good chance you're adjusting your posture to keep weight off of the affected foot. Over time, this can actually create a spinal misalignment that causes pain in the back, neck, and shoulders. Yes, plantar fasciitis pain that starts in your foot can actually cause a ripple effect in the way you move that ultimately creates severe headaches! That's why getting this condition treated is so important for full-body health and wellness even if you feel like you can "get by" with foot pain.

How Did I Get Plantar Fasciitis?

This is a question that so many people have when seeking treatment for plantar fasciitis for the first time. The truth is that anyone can develop this condition. First, it helps to know what your plantar fascia actually does. Running between your heel and toes, the plantar fascia acts like a natural "shock absorber" for your foot. While it's designed to take normal levels of pressure, repeated tension can cause the plantar fascia to eventually pull away from the bone.

Active people are at higher risk of developing plantar fascia. That means everyone from athletes to people who are on their feet all day for work. Runners and dancers are considered to be at the highest risk because of the repeated tension caused by hitting the floor or pavement. Here are some other risk factors for developing plantar fasciitis:

• You have high arches.
• Your feet are flat.
• You wear unsupportive shoes. Flat shoes without cushioning are the worst offenders!
• Your BMI places you in the "obese" category. In one study, nearly 67% of people with plantar fasciitis were obese.
• You stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time due to your job.
• You exercise on hard surfaces.
• You work or exercise on a hard surface.
• You exercise without performing calf stretches.

The good news is that many of the risk factors associated with plantar fasciitis can be eliminated or reduced. For instance, habits regarding your workouts that are putting unnecessary strain on your heels can be easily changed. In addition, learning how to identify shoes that offer appropriate arch support can help to prevent putting continued pressure on the feet. Some people even find success by having custom inserts made to provide tailored insulation between their feet and the floor.

What Is the Best Way to Treat Plantar Fasciitis?

If you've seen a doctor for plantar fasciitis, you may be feeling dissatisfied with the options that were presented to you. Many doctors simply recommend taking medications to relieve the pain and inflammation of plantar fasciitis. This can range from everything from over-the-counter pain relievers to opioid medications. While these options may take the sting out of plantar fasciitis for the short term, they don't actually heal the underlying issue. What's more, they actually allow the issue to continue to get worse.

Some doctors may offer you steroid injections. While injections can provide relief for your sore, inflamed plantar fascia, this option does come with a warning. Multiple steroid injections are not recommended for this area of the foot because they can actually permanently weaken the plantar fascia. Unfortunately, this can set you up for a lifetime of foot issues as part of a constant cycle of inflammation.

Finally, some doctors will recommend surgery for plantar fasciitis. Is surgery for plantar fasciitis necessary? It's an important question to ask before diving into this commitment. The truth is that surgery is an invasive option that comes with risks of complications, permanent nerve damage, and a weakened foot arch.

Hearing all of the complicated side effects that go along with common treatments for plantar fasciitis is often enough to make people wonder if there's a natural way to treat foot pain. The truth is that countless people are getting back on their feet again using massage therapy.

Massage Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis: What Are the Benefits?

Massage therapy is a natural, non-invasive treatment option that doesn't produce negative side effects. In a study looking at deep massage to posterior calf muscles in combination with neural mobilization exercises as a treatment for heel pain, researchers discovered that deep massage therapy combined with stretching was shown to be significantly more effective compared to a protocol involving ultrasound and stretching. Here's a glance at what patients have to look forward to when choosing massage to treat heel pain:

• Muscle Relaxation: Massage directly targets pain spots within the plantar fascia to eliminate the tension responsible for the burning sensation. During a massage, circulation is stimulated to help the injured area to receive essential nutrients and oxygen needed for healing.
• Pain Relief: It's not just the release of tension that eliminates pain. During massage, natural pain-killing endorphins are released. These endorphins allow dopamine and serotonin levels to surge throughout the body.
• Removal of Lactic Acid From Tissue: During a massage, manual pressure is applied using squeezing, pulling, and twisting to help remove "waste" from muscle tissues. This can also create drastic improvements in lymph fluid circulation.
• Better Sleep: Healing heel pain is actually about healing the entire body. Following massage, levels of a stress hormone called cortisol drop dramatically. This can help to reduce risks for weight gain, headaches, digestive issues, and sleep issues that are associated with elevated cortisol levels.

Is experiencing all of the benefits of healing plantar fasciitis naturally your objective? You don't have to wonder what it would be like to get relief from tight, burning, and inflamed heels. Book an appointment with DE Integrative to learn more about massage therapy for plantar fasciitis.