
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition when the plantar fascia, the tissue connecting the heel bone to the toes, becomes swollen or inflamed. Most commonly, people experience this stabbing heel pain when they get up from being sedentary for an extended period. Light exercise or movement can help mitigate the pain, but strenuous exercise or being on your feet for a long time can aggravate it further. Because of this, plantar fasciitis tends to be more common in runners, factory workers, teachers, and anyone on their feet for lengthy periods. Other risk factors include being overweight and issues with specific foot structures and mechanics.
Book Your First Plantar Fasciitis Exam
Exam includes in-depth whole-body analysis with provider, posture pictures and insight nervous system scans (provided if necessary). Consultation & plan of action will help you understand your care options.
The muscles in your feet are designed to allow for shock absorption, protecting the body against the full impact of the force of every step. Foot mechanics can impact whether a person develops plantar fasciitis. When the heel points inward, this stresses and can break down the arches of the feet, causing inflammation in the fascia tissue. A misalignment in your lower lumbar spine or hips affects your foot’s pronation (side-to-side movement). Correcting the alignment of the spine and hips can prevent the breakdown of fascia tissue that contributes to plantar fasciitis symptoms. If plantar fasciitis is left untreated, it can result in the development of hip, knee, and lower back issues. People with plantar fasciitis symptoms report a reduction, or even elimination, of symptoms with chiropractic care.
How Our Plantar Fasciitis Care Plan Works
1. Be Heard
And Understood
Quality time with a health professional, so you can be truly heard and understood, isn’t all that common. We understand that. This is why, on your first visit, you will meet with one of our doctors and share your health concerns and struggles so we can understand exactly why you are here and what you want to achieve. The doctor will determine what testing is necessary to find the source of your health concerns and answer the biggest question of all: Can Chiropractic Care Help?
2. Discover How We Can Help You
Every new patient should feel like they are making the right decision for their health. This is why our doctors explain what they are looking for in the testing, so our patients know exactly what is going on, instead of just being a bystander. We will share everything we discover from your testing and exams, including if we can help you. In the unfortunate event that we cannot help, our doctors will provide any additional resources they feel would be appropriate to assist you.
3. Achieve Your Health Goals Together
Whether you just want to be out of pain, or you want to get back to golfing without limitations, or you are desperate to get a restful night’s sleep, we will be with you every step of the way. We’ll achieve your goals
How We Treat Plantar Fasciitis in West Omaha, NE
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Understanding the root cause of your plantar fasciitis pain is essential in order to determine the appropriate course of action. While the foot joints can become misaligned, many people suffering from plantar fasciitis pain can trace symptoms back to a misalignment in the spine or pelvis. In order to determine the cause of plantar fasciitis, a thorough examination of the spine and foot joints is necessary.
When you come into our office with plantar fasciitis, the doctor will start with a consultation to document your health history and assess how your pain is impacting your life. Along with the consultation, the doctor will perform a series of examinations to help determine the root cause of your symptoms. The doctor will assess the movement of the joints in your feet and will also examine your spine to determine if subluxation in your spine is contributing to your plantar fasciitis pain. When a bone is out of place in your spine (also known as subluxation), the misalignment can affect how your body moves and functions. If you have a misalignment in your pelvis, even basic walking movements can lead to uneven weight distribution between your legs, thereby increasing the stress endured by the fascia tissue in your feet. The doctor will assess all these factors by utilizing postural analysis, gait analysis, and range of motion testing.
Based on the findings of all the examinations, the doctor will let you know if chiropractic care is the right fit to address your plantar fasciitis pain. If so, you will start a series of specific chiropractic adjustments. The purpose of chiropractic adjustments is to move bones back toward an optimal position, remove excess nerve pressure caused by misalignments, and allow the body to begin healing itself. The doctor may also prescribe some home exercises to strengthen muscles and create more balance within your body.
Gonstead Technique
At Family First, we use the Gonstead Technique to provide the most complete method of biomechanical analysis a chiropractor can offer. This advanced technique is the reason for the profound results our patients have seen. Through…
Visualization – assessment of postural changes and imbalances
Instrumentation – pinpointing nerve pressure and inflammation
Static Palpation – feeling the spine for abnormal texture or tension
Motion Palpation – determining each vertebra’s range of motion
X-rays – analyzing disc health and overall spinal structure
…we’re able to pinpoint the underlying cause of your plantar fasciitis and tailor a plan to correct it. This doesn’t mask your heel pain; it corrects your biomechanics to optimize how you move, relieving your pain and preventing it from returning. Why settle for temporary relief and the fear of the pain returning at any moment when you can walk through life confident that your body won’t let you down?
Holistic Plantar Fasciitis Relief in West Omaha, NE
We take a holistic approach to correcting your health limitations, which allows us to have long-term success and improve not just pain symptoms but the way you function and feel inside your body.
The structural integrity and foot function are critical components of your overall biomechanics and spinal alignment. That is why stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as lifestyle changes, are a critical part of our care. Improving flexibility and strength of the feet and plantar fascia reduces stress on the fascia and alleviates muscle tension, improving your foot mechanics. Strengthening exercises support arch stability and an even distribution of pressure.
We will also encourage you to reduce inflammation, as plantar fasciitis is inflammation. Avoiding toxins, reducing stress, and eliminating refined sugars and processed foods from your diet will help naturally lower inflammation levels and activate your body’s innate healing ability. This type of care doesn’t just relieve your immediate pain symptoms but also contributes to robust long-term health and injury prevention.
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Who Is Affected By Plantar Fasciitis in West Omaha, NE
Runners
Due to the repetitive microtrauma put on their feet, runners are among the most likely to develop plantar fasciitis. Whether a person is running competitively or recreationally, the more an individual runs, the more stress is put on the bones, joints, and tissues of the feet, increasing the possibility of developing plantar fasciitis.
For that reason, it is recommended to get a proper warmup/stretch before going for a run, focusing on proper running mechanics (running on the balls of your feet and not heel striking) during your run, and getting a proper cool down/stretch after your run. Chiropractic care ensures the bones and joints of the feet are moving properly so runners have the best opportunity to enjoy their run without experiencing plantar fasciitis symptoms.
Obese Individuals
According to a 2023 CDC population data study, at least 20% of US adults are living with obesity. Nebraska and Iowa are among the 23 states with at least 1/3 of its adult population being obese. It is a fact that overweight or obese individuals are at a higher risk of developing health problems, including musculoskeletal conditions like plantar fasciitis. Our feet are under a lot of stress already with normal everyday activity; added weight increases that stress and exacerbates symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
One of the best ways to help alleviate plantar fasciitis symptoms in overweight individuals is to reduce overall body weight. It is recommended to visit a chiropractor to find the exact cause of your plantar fasciitis and adopt lifestyle changes to help you lose weight to reduce or eliminate plantar fasciitis symptoms.
Pregnant Women
According to Foot Healthcare Associates, about 10% of pregnant women have plantar fasciitis symptoms. There are a couple of factors connecting plantar fasciitis and pregnant women, with the most obvious being normal pregnancy weight gain. Weight gain, especially in the third trimester when it is most rapid, increases stress and pressure on the feet.
Another contributing factor is hormonal changes. Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause ligaments to relax. This is helpful during delivery but results in joint instability, increasing the risk of injury. It is recommended that pregnant women with foot pain get examined and achieve a proper diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, as foot pain and swelling can also be signs of pre-eclampsia, especially in the late stages of pregnancy.
Certain Occupations
People working labor-intensive jobs or jobs that require them to primarily be on their feet during their workday have an increased risk of developing plantar fasciitis.
- Hospital staff
- Teachers
- Factory and warehouse workers
- Restaurant and hospitality staff
- Retail jobs
Just like runners, the more an individual is on their feet for work, the more stress is applied to the bones, joints, and tissues of the feet, resulting in irritation of the muscles and joints of the feet.
We recommended wearing proper, supportive footwear in the workplace to help prevent plantar fasciitis from developing. Custom orthotics are one way to ensure that your feet have proper support. However, if plantar fasciitis does develop, it is important to seek care as soon as possible to resolve the issue and prevent symptoms from recurring.
People with Certain Foot Structures
People have varying foot structures that can make them more susceptible to plantar fasciitis symptoms. For example, flat arches don’t absorb force and pressure effectively, resulting in excess pressure being put on the joints and tissues of the feet, which can lead to plantar fasciitis symptoms. High arches put stress on the joints and tissues of the feet, resulting in more tension in the heel of the foot.
Chiropractors are trained to examine and adjust feet of all different structures to help alleviate pain in the plantar fascia, so it is best to get examined early to help alleviate symptoms and prevent plantar fasciitis from getting worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chiropractors in West Omaha, NE, help plantar fasciitis?
Yes! From mild to severe cases, chiropractors are trained to properly assess symptoms of plantar fasciitis cases and provide care accordingly. Our office has had many patients report a reduction or complete relief of symptoms with chiropractic care.
What exercise can you do when you have plantar fasciitis?
Stretching your calf muscles is one of the best things you can do to help relieve some of the pressure off the plantar fascia. The decreased pressure can alleviate some of the pain and prevent the condition from being so persistent.
Is it bad to walk with plantar fasciitis?
No, it is not bad to walk with plantar fasciitis! Walking has many health benefits, so it is highly encouraged to continue walking if you have plantar fasciitis. It is best to promptly seek professional care for your plantar fasciitis to manage symptoms so you can enjoy the health benefits of walking with little to no pain.
Do cortisone shots help with plantar fasciitis?
Cortisone shots can help with pain that is caused by inflammation in some plantar fasciitis cases. Even though cortisone shots may be effective in alleviating pain, they do not treat the root cause of plantar fasciitis. It is common for pain to return or persist after the shot wears off, so it is most beneficial to pursue treatment that addresses the root cause of the problem if you want a complete correction.
What’s the best thing to do for plantar fasciitis?
The best thing you can do for your plantar fasciitis is get thoroughly examined by a professional to determine the root cause of your symptoms. From there, a proper care plan can be created to correct the cause of your plantar fasciitis.
Book Your First Plantar Fasciitis Exam
Exam includes in-depth whole-body analysis with provider, posture pictures and insight nervous system scans (provided if necessary). Consultation & plan of action will help you understand your care options.