Is it Really Plantar Fasciitis?

So, you have bottom of foot pain.  It hurts when you place your weight on it when you get up in the morning.  Stop right there, you have "plantar fasciitis"......or do you?  Here is a simple plantar fascia stress test to see if you truly have plantar fasciitis.

So, what if it is not true plantar fasciitis; what could it be?  What I have mostly seen is it is either a plantar weakness (arch weakness), ankle hypomobility (either from a direct joint restriction or muscular tension), or referred pain from the sacroiliac joint.  So, what can you do for these alternative problems causing your "plantar fasciitis"?

Arch weakness: Standing on the ground, barefoot, practice lifting the arch without lifting your toes off the floor.  You may either be able to do this by simply shifting your weight slightly to the outside of your foot without lifting the toes or tightening your buttocks to lift the medial foot arch.  For long term arch strength, try a minimalistic shoe in which you are esentially walking barefoot (with just a sole covering)....I know -- backwards from what you think and scary to contemplate since putting your foot on the ground hurts.  [Read "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall.]

Ankle hypomobility: If soft tissue (therapeutic massage) alone to the surrounding foot and ankle structures doesn't alleviate your pain, a manual PT can assess whether or not you would benefit from a talocrural distraction manipulation or subtalar joint manipulation to correct the mobility of the foot and ankle and thus take the stress off the plantar fascia.

Talocrural Distraction Manipulation to increase global ankle mobility especially toe up motion.

Eversion Subtalar Joint Manipulation to increase ankle falling in motion.

Inversion Subtalar Joint Manipulation to increase ankle falling out motion.

Referred pain from the Sacroiliac Joint: By stabilizing the sacroiliac joint through a temporary belt and progressive transverse abdominal strengthening exercises, one can abolish his/her plantar fascia pain if that is what's causing his/her symptoms.  See previous posts' pictures of transverse abdominal strengthening (Pilates Leg Loading Tests) for some ideas.

Happy walking to you and your feet!  :-)