Do you struggle with persistent pain in the soles of your feet? You’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from pain or injury on the plantar (bottom) surface of their feet, which can significantly impact their daily lives. Fortunately, at Rose City Physical Therapy in Portland, OR, our physical therapists are experts in diagnosing and treating these conditions!
Plantar foot pain, a common issue affecting millions of people, can hinder your ability to get through your day. Typically the discomfort on the bottom of the foot is concentrated in the heel, arch, or forefoot. Activities like standing and walking can become extremely painful and limited.
Understanding the causes and educating you on prevention strategies can help you overcome plantar foot pain and enjoy life fully.
Don’t let plantar foot pain hold you back–reach out today and take the first step towards a pain-free life!
Types of Plantar Foot Pain Treated by Rose City Physical Therapy
When people with foot pain hear the word “plantar,” they usually think of plantar fasciosis, more commonly known as plantar fasciitis, but it just means the bottom of your foot. Although plantar fasciosis is the most common cause of heel pain, it is certainly not the only cause of pain on the bottom of the foot.
Our physical therapists at Rose City Physical Therapy treat various plantar foot pain injuries, conditions, and diagnoses. Some of the most common include:
- Heel Spurs: Heel spurs are bony protrusions on the underside of the heel bone (calcaneus). These spurs cause sharp pain when walking or standing. They develop over time due to various factors contributing to abnormal stress and strain on the heel bone, including plantar fascia injury and tension on the calcaneus.
- Baxter’s Neuritis: This can contribute up to 20% of the cause of plantar foot pain. This condition is a compression of Baxter’s nerve, a small nerve that runs along the inside of the ankle and down under the foot. Pain and hypersensitivity occur and can be quite limiting.
- Metatarsalgia: This condition is characterized by pain and inflammation at the forefoot along the long bones of the foot or the toe joints, often caused by overuse, ill-fitting shoes, or high-impact activities.
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition is caused by compression of the posterior tibial nerve as it passes through the tarsal tunnel, leading to pain, numbness, or tingling in the foot.
- Bone Stress Injury including Stress Fracture: Most common in runners, a bone stress injury can occur in various places in the foot and can be very painful and limit the ability to put weight on the foot. Biomechanical faults with running, poor nutrition, and overuse are common causes.
No matter the root cause of your foot pain, our physical therapists are well-equipped to diagnose and treat various plantar foot pain conditions.
Results-Based Approach to Treating Plantar Foot Pain
Our highly skilled physical therapists provide a comprehensive evaluation, employing a personalized, results-driven approach to alleviate plantar foot pain. As you embark on this journey toward relief, you can expect a systematic assessment of your condition that leaves no stone unturned.
Your journey begins with a thorough examination of your medical history, which allows our physical therapists to understand better the underlying factors contributing to your pain. Following this, our experts conduct a hands-on assessment, examining the affected area to identify any signs of inflammation, tension, or dysfunction.
To gain further insight into your condition, our physical therapists perform functional testing to determine any imbalances or limitations contributing to your discomfort. Our gait assessments will play a vital role in our evaluation process, revealing crucial information about your walking patterns and posture.
We will create a tailored treatment plan, which may include a variety of proven methods to address plantar foot pain, including the following:
- Stretching and strengthening exercises: Targeting the calf muscles and muscles in the foot (intrinsic muscles) can alleviate pain and improve function.
Functional (Therapeutic) Movement - Training: Specialized exercises that optimize an individual’s overall physical function, balance, coordination, strength, and mobility.
- Manual therapy: Techniques such as joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, and myofascial release can decrease pain and enhance mobility.
- Modalities: Therapeutic modalities, such as laser therapy, ultrasound, and cryotherapy (ice), help manage pain and inflammation and facilitate healing.
- Footwear modifications: Supportive shoes with appropriate support, cushioning, and fit can significantly reduce plantar foot pain.
Physical therapy at Rose City Physical Therapy is crucial in managing and preventing plantar foot pain and educating you on self-management techniques to achieve lasting relief.
Request an appointment today!
Our goal-oriented treatment plans ensure you experience measurable improvements in your condition. Don’t let plantar foot pain hold you back any longer!
Schedule your initial consultation with our expert physical therapists today!
Sources:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431073/
- https://jfootankleres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13047-020-0377-3
- https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/19/1106
- https://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/fulltext/2021/09000/achilles_tendinopathy,_a_brief_review_and_update.8.aspx
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5112330/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9907770/