Plantar Fasciitis Physical Therapy in New York

Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms

As with many overuse syndromes, plantar fasciitis symptoms often begin as a minor annoyance that gradually becomes more noticeable, and eventually debilitating.

Common symptoms include:

Sharp or tender heel pain
Pain that worsens after rest: Pain may be excruciating first thing in the morning, or after sitting for a prolonged time
Pain that worsens after physical activity: Pain may subside during exercise, but return full-force, once your body cools down
Pain when dorsiflexing the ankle (flexing toes towards shin)
Tingling or burning in the affected foot

Plantar Fasciitis Causes

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick band of connective tissue that spans the bottom of your foot, becomes injured. Injury often occurs from repetitive overuse, where demands placed on the fibers of the plantar fascia exceed their capacity to withstand them. Micro-tears in the fascia or a full-blown rupture cause pain that worsens over time.

Some causes of plantar fasciitis include:

Faulty walking or running gait mechanics
Walking or standing for extended periods in non-supportive footwear
Poor posture when standing or walking
Worn or poorly fitting athletic shoes
Overtraining during repetitive motion sports like running
Weak intrinsic foot core muscles
Unusually flat or unusually high arches
Tight Achilles tendons
Uneven leg length
Poor physical conditioning/sedentary lifestyle
Pregnancy

Diagnosis of Plantar Fasciitis

Diagnosis begins with a patient interview and health history review, followed by a physical exam. Because plantar fasciitis is relatively common, it is easy to overlook other less common potential causes of heel pain. Misdiagnosis is a primary cause of plantar fasciitis becoming a chronic condition. Compression of the small tibial nerve branch is a common mimicker of plantar fasciitis. About 25% of patients with chronic plantar fasciitis have a secondary tibial nerve involvement. Accurate diagnosis is key to treatment and recovery.

At NYDNR, we use the highest resolution diagnostic ultrasonography with SMI ( superior microvascular imaging) and elastography to diagnose plantar fasciitis, and rule out other possible causes of heel pain.

Musculoskeletal diagnostic ultrasound is the only radiological modality that can:

image the small nerves in the foot.
examine the plantar fascia in motion.
measure the elasticity of the plantar fascia.

Ultrasound also gives us the ability monitor the progress of treatment pre and post intervention with SMI.

Please explore more advanced diagnostic option unavailable anywhere else:

Sonoelastography SMI

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment NYC

If you are suffering plantar fasciitis pain in NYC, the foot pain specialists at NYDNRehab can help. We use innovative treatment methods and state-of-the-art technologies to accelerate healing and increase the strength and integrity of the plantar fascia, to reduce the risk of future injury.

Plantar fasciitis physical therapy

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy plantar fasciitis to stimulate cell regeneration in the plantar fascia
Ultrasound-guided dry needling for plantar fasciitis to release myofascial trigger points
Physical therapy for plantar fasciitis, to target the plantar fascia and associated joints, nerves, muscles and connective tissue
Foot core training, to improve overall foot function and reduce the risk of injury
Gait analysis/retraining, to correct faulty movement patterns that over-stress the plantar fascia

At NYDNR, we provide an individualized plantar fasciitis rehabilitation protocol for each patient, not a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Contact NYDNR today, and get to the bottom of your foot pain, so you can get back to your active lifestyle.

Plantar Fasciitis Physical Therapy

Plantar fasciitis pain results from an inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot known as plantar fascia. Because plantar fasciitis pain may create serious abnormalities in a person’s gait, finding the right plantar fasciitis treatment is essential. New York Dynamic Rehabilitation clinic (NYDNRehab) employs technologically advanced methods like shockwave therapy, gait analysis, and Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (C.A.R.E.N) to diagnose and rehabilitate injured feet.

The plantar fascia begins at the heel bone and runs along the bottom of the foot, forming thick, tendinous sheathes that help to hold the toes in place. Within and surrounding the plantar fascia are small nerves that innervate the foot and register pain in the lower part of the body. This is one of the reasons plantar fasciitis is so painful. The plantar fascia tissue is composed of three sections, of which the middle portion is the largest and most vulnerable. The plantar fascia is instrumental in providing support and shock absorption to the foot, carrying up to 14 percent of the weight supported by the foot.

Plantar fasciitis occurs as a result of exercise or other strenuous activity, which is one reason athletes are so susceptible to it. Patients may develop plantar fasciitis from running and jumping that loosens the plantar fascia. Athletes may also render themselves vulnerable through sudden and drastic changes in their exercise routine because the body has not had sufficient time to adjust to the new pressures it’s undergoing.

Plantar fasciitis treatment includes copious amounts of rest and exercises designed to stretch the calves and plantar fascia. Plantar fasciitis pain physical therapy exercises are designed to disrupt the cycle of pain and inflammation that patients are likely to experience throughout the day. One method of doing this is through morning calf stretches undertaken before getting out of bed, during that moment in the day that is typically most painful for a sufferer of plantar fasciitis. Individuals undergoing plantar fasciitis therapy may also be given shoe inserts, also known as orthotics, to stabilize the feet. Orthotics prevent tearing and inflammation of the plantar fascia by elevating the foot. Elevation prevents excessive pressure from being placed on the plantar fascia.

At NYDNRehab we provide several important options for plantar fasciitis treatment. Technological running and gait analysis uses a treadmill to expose and diagnose abnormalities in a patient’s movement, often before the symptoms of a painful condition even begin to manifest. The runner is placed on a treadmill and markers are affixed to his or her body. These markers send information to a computer that provides real-time feedback. With this information the physician and patient are able to make strategic decisions about the best methods of rehabilitation available. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has proven effective in relieving inflammatory conditions by treating the tissue surrounding an injury. High-frequency shockwaves are sent through the skin of the plantar fascia, halting the inflammation process. Finally, C.A.R.E.N is a highly advanced technology that re-trains the patient’s movement through the creation of virtual-reality exercises that can’t be done in a normal clinical environment. Each of these has its place in the treatment of plantar fasciitis, and NYDNRehab offers them.

physical therapy for plantar fascitis