If you have ever lived with the pain and discomfort of plantar fasciitis, it may seem counterintuitive to overload an already painful foot with exercise. In fact, most traditional treatment protocols encourage rest, orthotics and gentle stretches to promote healing. Unfortunately, PF can be stubborn, often lasting a year or more after diagnosis, causing frustration for both patients and therapists.
Now, recent research has got us reconsidering how we approach and treat plantar fasciitis.
In 2006, a paper written by Scott Wearing pointed out the similarities between the plantar fascia and tendons of the lower leg in terms of pathology and response to load. Eccentric loading has since become a standard treatment for leg tendinopathy. Nearly a decade later, Michael Rathleff et al. (2014) conducted a study to see if high load strength training would be effective in treating plantar fasciitis.
The randomized study of 48 patients with plantar fasciitis assigned participants into one of two groups. During the three-month study, the first group was given shoe inserts and performed daily plantar-specific stretches, while the second group was given shoe inserts and performed high load progressive strength training exercises for the plantar fascia, every-other day.
Assessment at the end of three months revealed superior self‐reported outcomes in the strength group compared to the stretch group. The authors concluded that, “High‐load strength training may aid in a quicker reduction in pain and improvements in function” of the plantar fascia.
At NYDNR, we never stop looking for new and better ways to treat common disorders. Our team of sports medicine doctors embrace the newest technologies and cutting edge therapies to help our patients heal quickly and completely.
In addition to physical therapy, our toolbox of therapies for plantar fasciitis includes:
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis: ESWT also relies on the body’s own natural healing response to disruption. Non-invasive shock waves delivered to the plantar fascia cause micro-trauma to the otherwise circulation-poor tissue, invoking a healing response that causes the formation of blood vessels that increase nutrient delivery to the affected tissues, accelerating healing.
All treatment plans at NYDNR are individualized to meet the needs of every patient. If you are suffering from plantar fasciitis in NYC, contact us today, and see what a difference innovation and technology can make in eliminating plantar fasciitis pain.
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