{"id":38,"date":"2014-09-09T18:16:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-09T18:16:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-07-06T21:58:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T21:58:18","slug":"v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/?p=38","title":{"rendered":"PLANTAR FASCIITIS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

PLANTAR FASCIITIS<\/b><\/span>
\n<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\nComprehensive Strategies For
\nAddressing Plantar Fasciitis<\/span><\/i><\/div>\n
\nIn today\u2019s clinical environment, plantar fasciitis is a
\ncommon and debilitating condition. \u201cPlantar fasciitis is the most frequent
\ncause of heel pain in adults, accounting for 15% of visits to podiatrists and
\napproximately 9% of running injuries\u201d(1).   <\/span>The purpose of this article is to discuss
\ncomprehensive strategies that include instrument assisted soft tissue
\nmobilization (IASTM) and functional evaluation techniques. Irritation to the
\nplantar fascia is widely treated with immobilization and injections. Unfortunately
\nthese interventions are incomplete and short sighted.  <\/span>When faced with these types of complex injuries, each provider should ask; is the treatment we are rendering comprehensive? 
\nM<\/span>any of the patients I have
\ntreated have most likely seen other types of providers before
\nseeking our care as a last alternative. Chiropractic is touted as treating the
\nroot of the issue, but if we seek to only provide short term relief, how can
\nwe hold ourselves to that higher standard. <\/div>\n
\nForm & Function;<\/span><\/div>\n
\nStatic analysis and Orthotic correction (shoe inserts)  is a common
\ntreatment for plantar pain. Traditional approaches to heel pain have come up short fully addressing plantar pain. It\u2019s been brought to my
\nattention that much of the chiropractic (and physical therapy) profession is
\nunaware of the rehab renaissance occurring. Functional movement analysis has
\nallowed those who utilize it to find faulty movement patterns as well as muscle
\nimbalances that are the underlying causes of dysfunction. The work of Janda,
\nLiebenson, and Cook have provided us with screening tests that gauge the
\n\u201cquality\u201d of movement and identify areas of overuse; thereby identifying
\nunderlying causes of injury(2). <\/div>\n
\nA staple of the functional testing is the squat, in its
\nperformance we sometimes note the subject\u2019s heels lifting off as the squat gets
\ndeeper.  <\/span>This would be indicative of
\ncalf\/ankle hypo-mobility. Having the patient repeat the squat with the heels in
\nthe elevated position and having them perform it with greater competency would
\nfurther validate calf and foot shortening.  If you cannot deep squat, it may be because of your ankle mobility and that in turn is a major underlying reason your heel hurts!<\/div>\n
\nPlantar fasciitis is surely a musculo-skeletal issue. Let\u2019s
\ninvestigate the work of Tom Myers \u201cAnatomy Trains\u201d to see what else may be
\nassociated with the chain of soft tissue(muscle\/ ligament\/ tendon) known as the plantar aponeurosis. <\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\nAs we can see from the illustration above, there is a long
\ntrack of fibrous tissue that runs contiguously from the plantar aspect of the foot to
\nthe top of the skull; therefore shortening  the muscle along the superficial back line
\nwould shorten the continuous chain of connective tissue-in other words not only are bones connected to bones, but muscles are connected to muscles. Tightness in one muscle can and will affect other muscles along the same line.  In my own clinical experience as well as medical literature, shortened
\ncalf\/ heel chords are commonly noted in cases of plantar fasciitis (3). While
\nalmost ev<\/span>eryone knows how to isolate the Gastrocs calf group, affecting the
\nSoleus calf group seems to elude both patient and doctor.  Most patients that present to my office with a plantar pain issue have NOT been shown this simple and ultimately effective move. Feel free to contact us for assistance in performing the Soleus mobility drill. <\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\nTreatment;<\/span><\/div>\n
\nWhen treating movement related conditions it’s best to use everything available. Massage, Release technique, avoidance strategies, mobility drills and strengthening rehab procedures. <\/span>Restoring the amount the ankle can bend upwards (dorsiflexion) is a primary goal.  <\/span>Muscle energy techniques (contract\/relax stretching) should also play an
\nintegral role in the muscles situated along the superficial back line as well
\nas any tight\/ overactive muscle groups. Restoring ankle Dorsiflexion through joint
\nmobilization (Cook\u2019s tall half kneel) of the ankle in addition to manipulation
\nof the ankle joint will also aid in restoring proper biomechanics. Finally
\nwe need to address foot stability, as Boyle\u2019s joint by joint approach(4) tells
\nus, it\u2019s an area designed for that role.  <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\nSelf care and long range goals should include activities
\nthat would affect the superficial <\/span>back line (Yoga). Finally, sparing strategies
\ncannot be ignored, as self care will move the patient towards independence in
\ntheir favorite activities. There is a wealth of tools and techniques available
\nto us, and as my father the carpenter often told me \u201cthe right tool at the
\nright time results in the best job\u201d. <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Correct form for the tall half kneel.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n1. Ranawat, Chitranjan S., and Rock G. Positano. Disorders
\nof the Heel, Rearfoot, and Ankle<\/i>. New
\n York: Churchill Livingstone, 1999. Print.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n2. Page, Phillip. “3; Chain Reaction.” Assessment
\nand Treatment of Muscle Imbalance The Janda Approach<\/i>. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N.
\npag. Print.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n3. Garrett, T., and Pj Neibert. “The Effectiveness of a
\nGastrocnemius-soleus Stretching Program as a Therapeutic Treatment of Plantar
\nFasciitis.” Journal of Sports Rehabilitation<\/i> 12th ser. 22.308
\n(2013): n. pag. Web.<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n4. Boyle,
\nMichael, Mark Verstegen, and Alwyn Cosgrove. <\/span>Advanced in Functional
\nTraining: Training Techniques for Coaches, Personal Trainers and Athletes<\/i>. Santa Cruz, CA:
\nOn Target Publications, 2010. Print.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PLANTAR FASCIITIS Comprehensive Strategies For Addressing Plantar Fasciitis In today\u2019s clinical environment, plantar fasciitis is a common and debilitating condition. \u201cPlantar fasciitis is the most frequent cause of heel pain in adults, accounting for 15% of visits to podiatrists and approximately 9% of running injuries\u201d(1).   The purpose of this article is to discuss comprehensive strategies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40,"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38\/revisions\/40"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/39"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kinetx.org\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}