Foot Ligament Injury
Plantar Fasciitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
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James McCormack is a Physical Therapist who specializes in foot & ankle injuries. james-mccormack.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Massage is an excellent way to provide pain relief from Plantar Fasciitis. There are several forms of massage, such as self-massage, foam rolling, using a massage gun, and seeing a massage therapist in a clinic setting. In this article, we explore the benefits of massage, how it works and what to avoid when it comes to a massage for Plantar Fasciitis.
Plantar Fasciitis Massage
A study by Martin et al. (2014) concluded that the use of massage for the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis successfully reduces pain levels in patients and increases rates of recovery. Massage of the surrounding tissue, such as the calf muscles and Posterior Tibialis Muscle, is effective as part of the treatment without the need for massage directly on the Plantar Fascia. We recommend that massage is performed alongside strengthening exercises and other forms of treatment such as weight management, offloading, and insoles.
Generally, foot massage can help relax the foot and provide pain relief, while massage to the surrounding muscles reduces the risk of compensatory injuries such as Achilles Tendonitis.
Can massage make Plantar Fasciitis worse?
Foot massage can help relieve Plantar fasciitis symptoms, but we recommend caution against massaging the heel bone or the insertion point of the Plantar Fascia. As Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammatory condition, especially in the acute phases, you should avoid direct massage to the heel bone as it can worsen the symptoms.
Massage Gun For Plantar Fasciitis
The massage gun to the surrounding muscles of the Plantar Fascia can provide similar pain relief to a regular massage. We recommend using the massage gun on each muscle for 2-3 minutes and following this up with a Plantar Fasciitis stretch. When using the Massage Gun for Plantar fasciitis, we recommend using it on a low percussion setting which helps to soothe the tissue and increase blood flow to the area, providing pain relief.
We have found the Theragun to be the best massage gun for Plantar Fasciitis due to its reliability, varied speed, and various heads.
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Foot Massager For Plantar Fasciitis
A foot massage works under the same premise as a massage gun, except it is more manual in how you use it. It has the following benefits:
- Increased blood flow
- Short-term pain relief
- Increased foot mobility
Physiotherapy with James McCormack
This is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments for £45.
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