If only we could walk on our hands.

The problem with heel pain or arch pain is that there is no way of avoiding it in daily life. If your foot hurts, every step hurts, and that does not even include how much it hurts to run. Even if you can keep running through plantar fasciitis, is it going to make it worse?

If you have experienced this, you know you will do anything for plantar fasciitis pain relief.

An irritation to the tough, fibrous tissue at the base of the heel, is one of the most bothersome running injuries due to its infamous stubborn nature.

Runners with plantar fasciitis can sometimes have heel pain for months or even years before the fascia finally heals. It can be especially difficult to find shoes for plantar fasciitis that make it feel better, rather than worse.

Because of this, it is very important to catch and treat plantar fasciitis quickly.

Fortunately, if you take care of it, most cases do calm down in a matter of weeks and you will be able to keep running through plantar fasciitis.

Today we are going to help you figure out whether you can run through it or if you should stop running, what causes plantar fasciitis and what you can do to prevent it in future. Most importantly, we are going to give you the best exercises for plantar fasciitis and an effective plan of treatment for plantar fasciitis.

Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms

The plantar fascia is a thick band of fibers that runs from the base of the heel to the metatarsal heads.

It has several branches, any of which may become injured, but by far the most common area of the plantar fascia that’s hurt is the very base of the innermost bundle of fibers, right at the base of the heel.

What does plantar fasciitis feel like?

Plantar fasciitis will hurt the worst at the beginning of a run, but will gradually go away once you get warmed up.

It may return again at the end of the run, and will be more severe in less-supportive shoes or when barefoot.

Your arch or heel may also hurt after a long day on your feet, especially in hard or uncomfortable shoes.

Here’s the way you know you have plantar fasciitis:

The telltale sign involves your “first step pain”.

Do you have a sharp, stabbing pain at the base of the heel immediately after you get out of bed in the morning?

If the answer is yes, unfortunately, you have probably diagnosed your problem.

How common is plantar fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis accounts for around eight percent of all running injuries,1 and is common among runners of all ability levels, and is even a problem for sedentary people, where obesity and working long hours while standing are probably the driving causes.

Runners, of course, face additional issues due to the forces associated with running, but you shouldn’t overlook your footwear or habits in the rest of your life if you come down with a case of plantar fasciitis.

Women’s footwear is especially bad with respect to strain on the arch, but unsupportive hard-soled men’s shoes are problematic too.

Kristin Marvin talked about what the best shoes for plantar fasciitis are and believe it or not, it is possible to even find dress shoes for plantar fasciitis for both men and women.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis and What Makes it Worse?

Unfortunately, the root causes of plantar fasciitis are still not fully understood.

There are, however, some clues:

Some studies have found a connection between poor ankle range of motion, especially in dorsiflexion,2, 3 which implies that calf tightness plays a role in the development of plantar fasciitis. Indeed, the plantar fascia itself is in many ways simply a continuation of the Achilles tendon, which anchors the calf muscles to the heel bone.

Think of it this way:

Like a cable that angles around a corner, tight calves could put excessive tension on the plantar fascia, increasing the risk of injury.

As mentioned earlier, obesity and time spent on your feet are risk factors as well,2 though these are not as often a problem for runners.

However, they do indicate that putting high strains on the foot is problematic, and new research out of the University of Delaware has connected high impact loading rates with plantar fasciitis.4

The plantar fascia is also forced to absorb significantly more strain when you wear hard, flat shoes or walk around barefoot.

While the dynamics of “arch support” are not fully understood from a biomechanical perspective, it’s fairly obvious to most sufferers of arch pain that a cushioned, supportive surface feels better on the foot than a hard, flat one.

What is the Best Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis?

The first goal of treatment should be to protect the plantar fascia from additional strain while it is injured.

While the “-itis” suffix implies that inflammation is the cause of plantar heel pain, new evidence indicates that the real problem is damage and degeneration of the fascial fibers5—icing is always a good idea, but it’s not an excuse to continue to strain the plantar fascia with long runs, hard workouts, or unsupportive shoes.

Here’s the deal:

Aggressive rehabilitation, combined with avoiding activities that hurt, are your best chance for a speedy recovery.

Several conservative treatment methods are supported by scientific research.

These treatments are all designed either to protect the arch or stretch the plantar fascia/calf muscle complex.

Arch taping to limit stress

Several studies support arch taping, called “low-Dye taping” in medical circles after Ralph W. Dye, the inventor.6 While there are several ways to do a low-Dye taping, even its most basic form is effective.

The magnitude of the effect, however, is small, so arch taping is only one part of a rehabilitation plan.

Instructions for a low-Dye taping. The lateral straps (lower left, lower right) should be pulled reasonably firmly and should always come FROM the outside of the foot TO the inside.

Orthotic inserts for plantar fasciitis

Supporting the arch with a custom or over-the-counter orthotic is another strategy that can protect the arch while it heals.

It’s unclear whether there is a significant difference between custom orthotics or a rigid over-the-counter orthotic like SuperFeet Green or Powerstep insoles when it comes to treating plantar fasciitis.7

While they may not be tailored for your foot, over-the-counter insoles are not nearly as expensive and are available immediately—you’ll have to wait at least a few weeks for a pair of custom orthotics.

Now:

Avoid soft gel arch supports, as they’ll likely do nothing to help your injury.

Be careful with your casual and dress shoes with plantar fasciitis

In a similar vein, many runners find that wearing casual shoes with more arch support (including Birkenstocks and other brands of cork-soled shoes/sandals) relieves their symptoms.

Calf stretching, foot stretching, and using a night splint for plantar fasciitis have also been researched.

All three treatments are designed to stretch out the calf/Achilles/plantar fascia complex, reducing tension and strain on the arch.

Stretch for plantar fasciitis pain

For lack of any superior exercise, regular calf stretching is the mainstay of most plantar fasciitis treatment programs.

Calf stretching should be done several times a day, including right away in the morning. A typical protocol would be three sets of 30 seconds, three times per day, stretching with the knee straight and bent each session.

Calf stretches, with both a straight knee (top) and a bent knee (bottom)

One study compared a calf stretching protocol to a plantar fascia-specific foot stretch, held for 10×10 seconds, three times per day, and pictured below.8

Plantar fascia-specific stretch. Note that all the toes are stretched, not just the big toe.

This study found better results from the plantar fascia specific stretch; the authors hypothesized that the advantage of the foot stretch is that it recreates the Windlass mechanism, the pulley-like connection between the plantar fascia, heel, Achilles tendon, and calf.

Plantar fasciitis night splint

Night splinting is another treatment which aims to stretch out the plantar fascia.

As its name suggests, a night splint is a device you wear while you sleep which keeps your ankle dorsiflexed.

The theory is that the “first-step pain” that is the hallmark of plantar fasciitis is caused by the arch healing at night without any tension on it.

In the morning, the healing is disrupted by the tension put on the arch when you get out of bed.

Solid, cast-like night splints are available online and at a few specialty stores, but the Strassburg Sock is the best plantar fasciitis night splint we have found as it is an easier and more practical solution.9.

“The Sock” is a regular knee-high sock with a strap that runs from the toes to the kneecap. When this strap is (gently) tightened, the ankle is dorsiflexed like in a regular night splint, but so are the toes.

A Strassburg sock can be ordered online or often picked up at your local running store. Be careful not to put excessive tension on the strap.

Additional Forms of Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

If you have tried and tested all the above treatments for your arch or heel pain, is there anything else that can be done if you are fed up of dealing with this.

Maybe give these a try:

Massage for plantar fasciitis

Manipulating the tissue of the plantar fascia is an approach that’s become more popular among runners recently.

Using a golf ball or other hard, round object, you can “roll out” your arch much like you’d roll out your quads or calves with a foam roller.

More aggressive soft-tissue manipulations like Active Release Technique (A.R.T.) or Graston Technique are also popular.

All of these are unproven in the scientific literature, however, so while many runners do find them very helpful, there’s no evidence they’ll work for you.

If you do decide to roll out your arch or get some soft tissue work done, icing your foot afterwards is not a bad idea.

Steroid injections in the foot to ease heel pain

Injections of corticosteroids are a common second-line treatment among podiatrists.

While some research has showed that they may help,7 other scientists have urged caution, since their success rate is fairly low and there is a risk of complete rupture of the plantar fascia.10, 5

Ouch.

Application of a corticosteroid like dexamethasone through the skin via iontophoresis, an electric charge-driven process, may be more helpful and have a lower risk of complications than a direct injection.11

This is an issue you should talk with your orthopedist or podiatrist about.

New, alternative treatment for plantar fasciitis

Chronic, long-standing cases of plantar fasciitis can be particularly tricky to deal with.

Two new treatments, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT)12, 13, 14and platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP),15 show good promise in treating recalcitrant cases, especially in runners.

Because of their relatively recent development, they may be difficult to get access to, however, and their efficacy is not yet solidly vetted.

What are the best shoes for plantar fasciitis?

Many proponents of minimalist and barefoot running have cured plantar fascia problems by transitioning to a more flexible training shoe that allows the arch to stretch out and strengthen itself.

Unfortunately, there haven’t been any scientific studies that have monitored the effectiveness of barefoot running as a possible treatment for plantar fasciitis.

Therefore, we list it under “other possible treatment options”. If you want to learn more, we recommend listening to our in-depth interview with minimalist running expert Dr. mark Cucuzzella.

Outline of Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis

Because of plantar fasciitis’ reputation for hanging around for months at a time if not properly addressed, even a mild case of arch pain should be attacked aggressively with several treatments.

RunnersConnect Insider Bonus Download our Plantar Fascia Treatment Outline inside your Insider Members area. It’s a PDF with an outline of the conservative and aggressive treatment options to help you get through your plantar fasciitis. GET THE FREE GUIDE

Protection, ice, and stretching should be the mainstays of your early treatment.

While you don’t have to completely stop running, you should avoid anything that makes your arch worse, and protect it while you run and while you go about your daily life.

Conservative treatments

These are methods that are fairly simple, inexpensive, and can be done on your own at home.

Wear comfortable shoes with some cushioning and arch support, and avoid hard shoes or anything barefoot.

Ice your foot several times a day, either with ice cups or a round, frozen object like a plastic water bottle. If you run, ice immediately afterwards.

Stretch your calves at least three times per day. Each session should consist of 3×30 second holds, first with your knee straight, then with it bent.

Stretch your plantar fascia three times per day. Each session should consist of 10×10 second holds. Make sure you stretch right after getting up in the morning.

Use a low-Dye taping to protect your arch when you walk around or exercise.

Consider using an over-the-counter orthotic like SuperFeet Green or Powerstep in your everyday shoes and running shoes.

Wear a night splint or a Strassburg Sock at night to stretch out your arch, Achilles, and calf muscles.

Roll out your plantar fascia with a golf ball, taking care not to press too hard on the injured area.

Aggressive treatments

These are treatments with more cost and less certainty about outcomes, but may prove useful in recalcitrant cases.

Consider seeing a podiatrist and getting custom orthotics made. They have a large up-front cost and may take a few weeks to arrive, but many runners credit their recovery to orthotics.

Talk with your doctor or podiatrist about the risks and benefits of a corticosteroid injection or, preferably (to reduce the risk of plantar fascia rupture), iontophoresis.

Seeing an A.R.T. or Graston Technique practitioner may speed your recovery, though there’s no research to back these treatments

Look into extracorporeal shockwave therapy or platelet rich plasma injections for particularly stubborn cases

How Can I Get Back to Running if Plantar Fasciitis Makes Me Stop Running

How quickly you can return to running will depend on the severity of your injury and how fast you heal.

Some runners find that they can work their way back into running even while some residual arch stiffness persists, but if running is making your arch pain worse, you need more time off and more time for your rehab program to do its job.

Don’t panic though, we do not lose fitness as fast as most people think!

As you return to running, consider increasing your stride frequency by 10% or so to reduce your impact loading rate,16 a factor connected with the development of plantar fasciitis in runners.

Keep stretching your calves even after you’ve recovered to stave off any future bouts with plantar fasciitis.