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Home Blog Plantar Fasciitis Physical Therapy

Plantar Fasciitis Physical Therapy

About Plantar Fasciitis

The plantar fascia is a thick band of connective tissue that spans from your heel to your toes. It serves to stabilize the many bones in your foot and ankle complex, and its elastic properties contribute to force production during walking, running and jumping.

Although the suffix “itis” is used to describe inflammation, it is now thought that plantar fascia pain is not caused by inflammation, but by micro tears and trigger points in the fascia itself. New regenerative technologies provide fast and effective treatment options for plantar fasciitis.

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Dr. Lev Kalika
Dr. Lev Kalika

Clinical director & DC RMSK

About Foot Pain Specialist Dr. Lev Kalika

Dr. Kalika has been treating foot and heel pain for over 15 years. His expertise in diagnostic ultrasonography using the highest resolution ultrasound technology available in NYC ensures that patients get an accurate diagnosis on their first visit.

The NYDNRehab clinic features the most technologically advanced gait analysis system available in a private physical therapy clinic. Dr. Kalika has developed his own unique approach to treating heel pain using extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), along with ultrasound guided dry needling and injection therapies. Using his methodology, true plantar fasciitis can be easily treated and function can be fully restored, provided there are no other underlying issues.

With his expertise in diagnostic ultrasonography, Dr. Kalika has successfully treated some of the most complicated cases of plantar fasciitis, and is able to weed out nerve involvement that can mimic plantar fasciitis. He has published multiple research papers on the subject.

Dr. Kalika is an internationally recognized expert in musculoskeletal medicine, with many scientific publications to his credit. He is certified in multiple evidence-based therapy approaches. His clinic features advanced technologies rarely found in run-of-the-mill physical therapy clinics.

Doctor Kalika has successfully treated over 2000 cases of plantar fasciitis, often succeeding where other practitioners have failed.

Get the Best Plantar Fasciitis Rehab that Really Works

The first step to recovering from plantar fasciitis is finding a health care practitioner who knows how to successfully treat it. There are hundreds of physical therapy clinics in NYC, but few have the expertise, experience and tools needed to accurately diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis. In fact plantar fasciitis is one of the most frequently misdiagnosed musculoskeletal conditions.

At NYDNRehab, we use cutting edge technologies to diagnose and treat your foot and heel pain. Using research-grade high resolution diagnostic ultrasonography, we are able to accurately pinpoint the underlying cause of your foot pain, eliminating the risk of misdiagnosis and avoiding ineffective treatments that waste your time and prolong your pain and discomfort.

Get the Best Plantar Fasciitis Rehab that Really Works
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We never take a one-size-fits-all approach to plantar fasciitis physical therapy. Our one-on-one personalized treatment plans ensure that you get the exact treatment you need without wasting time. Many of our patients come to us after months of pain and futile attempts at treatment. At NYDNRehab, they finally get the personalized care they need to eliminate plantar fasciitis symptoms for good.

Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms, Causes
and Risk Factors

Symptoms

  • Sharp pain in the heel

  • Intensified pain after exercise

  • Foot arch pain

  • Pain that intensifies in the morning or after resting

  • Swelling in the heel

  • Stiffness in the Achilles tendon

  • Pain that persists for months on end

Causes and Risk Factors

  • Long hours standing on your feet, especially on concrete

  • Overuse from sports and physical activity

  • Footwear with too little support

  • Wearing high heels

  • Obesity

  • Pregnancy

  • Flat feet or feet with high arches

Get to the bottom of heel pain

Accurate Diagnosis is Key to Successful Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Plantar fasciitis affects people from all walks of life, from retail and construction workers to fitness enthusiasts and athletes. Because the condition shares symptoms with other foot and ankle conditions, including sciatica, tarsal tunnel syndrome, lateral plantar nerve entrapment, plantar fascia rupture and calcaneal stress fractures, it is frequently misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated.

At NYDNRehab, we use the highest resolution diagnostic ultrasonography to differentiate plantar fasciitis from other conditions. Accurate diagnosis ensures that you get the most effective treatment available for your specific condition. We know that physical rehabilitation takes time, and we believe that time should not be wasted on treatments for the wrong condition.

Accurate Diagnosis is Key to Successful Plantar Fasciitis Treatment

Treatment Options for Plantar Fasciitis Rehab at NYDNRehab

The plantar fascia is made up of thick connective tissue with limited vascularity, making it slow to heal due to limited delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Traditional treatment methods include taping, orthotics and stretching exercises, none of which help the plantar fascia to heal.

At NYDNRehab, we use regenerative therapies and technologies that stimulate the growth of new cells in the plantar fascia for quick and effective chronic plantar fasciitis treatment. Our unique approach often completely resolves plantar fasciitis in only a handful of sessions.

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Our Unique Regenerative Technologies Accelerate
Plantar Fasciitis Healing

Your body has its own innate healing mechanisms, but they sometimes need a nudge to stimulate the healing process. Regenerative technologies help to jump-start healing at the cellular level, for fast and effective recovery with minimal discomfort for the patient.

Focused Shockwave Therapy

INDIBA Radiofrequency Therapy

NESA Neuromodulation Therapy

The NESA device delivers a biphasic low-frequency electrical current via semi-electrodes attached to the hands and feet. It emits a stimulus to the autonomic nervous system that calms and balances hypersensitized nerves, restoring optimal neural signaling to the brain.

INDIBA Radiofrequency Therapy

INDIBA converts electrical current into a stable frequency of 448 kHz, designed to increase the exchange of ions in damaged cells. The current evokes a regenerative response that accelerates healing.

Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT)

NESA Neuromodulation Therapy

Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT)

Focused Shockwave Therapy

Extracorporeal Focused Shockwave Therapy

Focused ESWT technology produces high frequency sound waves to stimulate the body’s own reparative mechanisms. It is especially effective for treating fibrocartilaginous structures like the plantar fascia.

Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT)

Extracorporeal magneto transduction therapy (EMTT) is a non-invasive technology that uses electromagnetic fields to reduce pain and stimulate cellular progenesis in targeted tissues. This groundbreaking new technology is an effective treatment of choice for a variety of conditions, including plantar fasciitis. When combined with ESWT, the two technologies form a dynamic duo for reducing pain and inflammation and accelerating the healing process.

HIGHENERGY INDUCTIVETHERAPY (HEIT)

Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT)

NESA Neuromodulation Therapy

Ultrasound-Guided Dry Needling

Dry needling targets myofascial trigger points that may contribute to plantar fasciitis pain. Ultrasound guidance ensures accuracy, to minimize pain and discomfort for the patient.

Ultrasound-Guided Injection Therapies

Injection therapies like platelet rich plasma (PRP) and prolotherapy use natural/neutral solutions that stimulate cellular repair by either nourishing or irritating the targeted cells. Guidance by ultrasound ensures that the injected substances hit their mark, for maximum effectiveness.

INDIBA Radiofrequency Therapy
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Get Fast and Effective Plantar Fasciitis
Relief in NYC

Plantar fasciitis is slow to heal without professional intervention. To get the very best treatment for plantar fasciitis, you need a clinic that is equipped with the best regenerative tools for plantar fasciitis physical therapy. When coupled with our experience and expertise, NYDNRehab cannot be beat as the clinic of choice for plantar fasciitis rehab in NYC.

Range of Available Unique Physical Therapy
Treatments at Nydnrehab

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    Plantar Fasciitis FAQs

    I was training for a marathon when I developed PF and had to stop running. My race is in two months. How soon can I get back to training?
    While staying off your feet may help in the early stages of plantar fasciitis, it will not necessarily help the condition to improve in the long run. Instead of waiting for your plantar fasciitis to self-heal, you can opt for regenerative therapy to speed up the healing process. The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be ready to run again. However, a 3D running gait analysis is recommended, to identify and eliminate the underlying cause of your plantar fasciitis. It may also improve your overall running performance and race time.
    I have been treated by two different doctors — my GP and a podiatrist — and my plantar fasciitis symptoms have not gone away. What’s going on?
    Standard treatment protocols do not always succeed in getting rid of plantar fasciitis, often because they treat the symptoms and not the underlying cause. Plantar fasciitis can be caused by deficits in gait mechanics, faulty loading patterns, myofascial trigger points, and mechanical deficits further up the kinetic chain. Podiatrists focus on the foot, and rarely venture beyond the locus of pain. A specialist in rehabilitative medicine will look beyond your symptoms to identify the true cause of plantar fasciitis and treat it at its source.
    I have had heel pain for months. Could it be something other than plantar fasciitis?
    Plantar fasciitis diagnosis is often based on symptoms alone, but several other issues can mimic plantar fasciitis symptoms. They include sciatica, tarsal tunnel syndrome, plantar nerve entrapment, rupture of the plantar fascia, stress fractures of the heel bone, and neuroma. Diagnostic ultrasonography can help differentiate plantar fasciitis from other causes of foot and heel pain, to ensure you get the right treatment protocol.
    Can surgery get rid of my plantar fasciitis?
    Plantar fascia release surgery, also called plantar fasciotomy, seeks to relieve pain by detaching the plantar fascia tissue from the heel bone. Since the plantar fascia connects the heel and toes, surgery will at least temporarily impede foot function, and the healing process post-surgery is slow, lasting 12-18 months. In theory, the plantar fascia tissue will grow back after surgery, but there are inherent risks, including recurring foot pain and damage to nerves. In over 95% of cases, plantar fasciitis can be successfully resolved without surgery.
    What can I do to prevent plantar fasciitis from flaring up again, once my condition heals?
    Being proactive is the best way to avoid plantar fasciitis in the future. Wearing supportive shoes that fit properly, elevating your feet after long bouts of standing, soaking your feet in Epsom salts, and doing foot strengthening exercises can help. A 3D gait analysis can pinpoint gait deficits that overload and overwork the plantar fascia. In addition to preventing plantar fasciitis, gait retraining has multiple benefits for posture, joint health, balance and stability.
    My doctor prescribed custom-made orthotics for my plantar fasciitis, but they are really expensive. Is there a less expensive solution?
    Custom orthotics can cost anywhere from $200 to $800, with no guarantee that they will provide relief from plantar fasciitis pain. Add to that the cost of office visits and fittings, and you could pay well over $1000 for orthotics that won’t work with all your shoes. Even if orthotics help, it can take months for your pain to subside. Regenerative therapy is relatively inexpensive, and yields results in a matter of weeks. Many patients report reduced pain after the very first session.
    Will steroid injections help get rid of plantar fasciitis?
    Steroid injections may temporarily relieve pain, but they will not resolve the underlying cause of plantar fasciitis, and sometimes numbing the pain can make the condition worse in the long run. Regenerative therapy helps to repair tissues at the cellular level, for fast, complete and lasting relief.

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    About the Author

    Dr. Lev Kalika is a world-recognized expert in musculoskeletal ultrasonography, with 20+ years of clinical experience in advanced rehabilitative medicine. In addition to operating his clinical practice in Manhattan, he regularly publishes peer-reviewed research on ultrasound-guided therapies and procedures.

    Dr. Kalika is an esteemed member of the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment ((SMST), and the only clinician in New York certified by the ISMST to perform extracorporeal shockwave therapy. He is also an active member of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), and has developed his own unique approach to dynamic functional and fascial ultrasonography.

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      Physical therapy and rehab can be time consuming,
      and a faulty diagnosis can make treatment a total waste of time.

      Failure to accurately diagnose a condition in its early stages can lead to chronic
      problems and sometimes devastating results

      Diagnostic musculoskeletal sonography (MSUS) provides the perfect tool for the rehab practitioner. Yet many doctors and physical therapists have no experience with MSUS, are unaware of its advantages, and have no idea how to use it as a diagnostic tool.

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      Below is a prime example of how ultrasound can take the guesswork out of diagnosis.

      Learn more »
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      Accurate Diagnosis Is the ONLY way to
      Successful Treatment
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      A bad physical therapy experience is one of the primary causes of unnecessary surgery

      At NYDNR, we believe in
      medical innovation

      We have equipped our clinic with the latest research-grade technology to arrive at objective and accurate diagnoses, and to objectively measure our patients’ progress.

      • С.A.R.E.N.
      • Kineo
      • Proteus shoulder arm recovery
      • Zebris
      • Manuthera 242
      • ESWT
      • Vertimax
      • Ankle Stabilizing Device
      • Blood Flow Restriction
      С.A.R.E.N. С.A.R.E.N. Kineo Kineo
      Proteus shoulder atm recovery Proteus shoulder atm recovery Zebris Zebris
      Manuthera 242 Manuthera 242 ESWT ESWT
      Vertimax Vertimax Ankle Stabilizing Device Ankle Stabilizing Device Blood Flow Restriction Blood Flow Restriction Training
      • Aplio i800
      • Vibration Platform
      • Sensa mat
      • Force Plate
      • Fascial Gun
      • ShooTools Slider
      • Redcord
      • Cryo Therapy
      • Skier's Edge
      Aplio i800 Aplio i800 Vibration Platform Vibration Platform Sensa mat Sensa mat
      Force Plate Force Plate Fascial Gun Fascial Gun ShooTools Slider ShooTools Slider
      Redcord Redcord Cryo Therapy Cryo Therapy Skier's Edge Skier's Edge

      Most importantly,

      we are the only facility in the US

      where structural medical diagnosis is reflected in functional treatment, and vice versa.

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      In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.

      Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.

      The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.

      Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating
      the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy
      due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient
      to proper diagnostic workup

      Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed
      to be a complete tear with muscle contraction
      under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)

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      Complete tear of rectus femoris
      with large hematoma (blood)

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      Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited
      on dynamic sonography examination

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