Plantar Fasciitis and Exercise
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Plantar Fasciitis is a painful condition defined by pain under the heel, on the inner side, and along the medial arch of the foot. It is made worse by impact activities and over time there is a physical change in the structure of the Plantar Fascia connective tissue that decreases its capacity for loading. To address these changes, strengthening exercises have been shown to be the most effective form of treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. In particular, an evidence-based rehabilitation protocol by Rathleff et al, (2014), has been demonstrated to be the most effective Physical Therapy Protocol for Plantar Fasciitis.
Our aim in this article is to show you the protocol but please keep in mind that this is only one form of treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. It is a complex condition and a variety of treatment methods are often combined to resolve the symptoms of Plantar Fasciitis.
The Rathleff Protocol is a set list of modified calf raises using a rolled towel under the big toe. The function of the towel is to place a stretch on the Plantar Fascia which bias’ the heel raise towards the Plantar Fascia rather than the calf muscle, although both work in tandem.
Below you will see each week the repetition count will decrease per set while the sets increase.
Repetitions: 12
Sets: 3
Repetitions: 10
Sets: 4
Repetitions: 8
Sets: 5
How to Perform a Repetition:
This is not medical advice. We recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack. He offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments for £45.
Related Article: Plantar Fasciitis