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Signs Plantar Fasciitis is Healing
Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common forms of foot pain affecting approximately 10% of the population during their lifetime. The Plantar Fascia attaches the heel bone to the forefoot and plays an integral role in the structural stability of the foot. If the Plantar Fascia becomes overloaded, it can become inflamed and painful, leading to Plantar Fasciitis. In cases where individuals continue to overload Plantar Fasciitis, it can become so bad that you can’t walk on it. We have written on the best treatment for Plantar Fasciitis which we have linked below, but what are the signs that Plantar Fasciitis is Healing?
4 Signs Plantar Fasciitis is Healing
1: Consistent levels of pain
In most cases of Plantar Fasciitis, pain dictates the individual’s pain levels. When a patient has less pain, they try to do more activity, usually followed by a bad day (Higher pain levels); we usually refer to this as booming and busting.
However, when your pain starts to become more consistent, and we usually measure this cumulatively over a week, it is an excellent indicator that the Plantar Fascia is tolerating greater loads without any inflammatory reactions.
2: Less pain in the morning
Plantar Fasciitis is a mechanical condition which translates to increased activity (standing, walking or running), resulting in higher pain levels the following day.
We use morning pain as an objective marker for improvement. There are few variables that can influence your morning pain apart from what you did the day before, as the Plantar Fascia has been offloaded overnight. Therefore, if your morning pain is consistently reducing, we can confidently say that this is a true sign your Plantar Fasciitis is healing.
3: Less Generalised Pain
As Plantar Fasciitis improves, it does not always become localised to the heel bone. In some cases, the pathology is within the midportion of the Plantar Fascia, which is located around the midfoot. We expect to see general foot discomfort improving that results from compensation patterns when Plantar Fasciitis is at its worst.
Usually, in severe cases of Plantar Fasciitis, patients alter where they put pressure through their heel and foot, resulting in increased pain in the Heels Fat Pad and the Peroneal Tendons. If all of these symptoms improve and symptoms become more specific to the Plantar Fascia, it is a sign your Plantar Fasciitis is healing.
4: Less Calf Tightness
When walking and running, the Plantar Fascia plays a vital role in the push-off phase of the gait cycle. However, when someone develops Plantar Fasciitis, they avoid the push-off phase of the gait cycle as it places a stretch on the Plantar Fascia, which is painful.
The consequence of a reduced push-off phase is the shortening of the calf muscle. Patients often report having really tight calf muscles when they have Plantar Fasciitis. Still, if this improves along with your ankle range of motion, it is a sign your Plantar Fasciitis is improving.
Physiotherapy with James McCormack
This is not medical advice and we recommend a consultation with a medical professional such as James McCormack before trying any of these exercises. James offers Online Physiotherapy Appointments for £45.
Related Articles:
How to cure Plantar Fasciitis in one week
Plantar Fasciitis so bad you can’t walk?
Causes of foot arch pain that’s not Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fascia Tear: Symptoms & Treatment