Elite PT May 2017 Newsletter/Plantarfasciitis Treatment

Elite PT May 2017 Newsletter/Plantarfasciitis Treatment

In this month’s email newsletter we’re going to talk about treatments for foot and heel pain, a.k.a plantarfasciitis.

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April was a super busy month with our first ‘Free Screening Day’.  We had 20 former patients come in plus a few new folks. It was great to catch up in addition to helping some of our former clients with their current injuries.  Big thanks to everyone who could make it out!

We’ll definitely be hosting another ‘Free Screening Day’ later in the year so we’ll keep you posted.
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Treatment Spotlight – Plantarfasciitis

It’s that time of year when we start seeing more and more folks with that stabbing pain into their arch and heel, better known as plantarfasciitis.  As we get more active in the nicer weather the muscles and tissues on the bottom of our feet can take a beating resulting in significant pain that will limit walking and running.

Fortunately there are some really cool things we can do treat this condition that you aren’t going to find elsewhere in northern Michigan – specifically Graston Technique and Dry Needling.  Check out the video below to see how we use Graston Technique to treat this condition.

https://elitepttc.comgraston-technique-and-plantarfasciosis

We’ve had great success treating these conditions.  Here’s what one former patient had to say:

“I’ve had foot pain since June of 2016 and 3 cortisone shots which never even touched the pain.  I started at Elite PT in February which has helped me to regain full use of my foot without any pain”. –  M.B. from Traverse City (March 2017)

Physical therapy can often be quite successful even when more aggressive measures like injections, bracing, and casting have failed.  This client of ours is back to standing at work all day and going back to the gym without pain.

If you are suffering from foot and heel pain, give us a call (231 421-5805).  We can help to relieve the pain and get you active again.

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Exercise Tip of the Month
One of the keys to relieving arch and heel pain is to improve the mobility of the ankle joint.  This is one area where most of us are lacking and it can predispose us to problems like plantarfasciitis.

Stretching the tissues of the calf and foot are great for improving ankle mobility and below is a picture of how we often have our clients self-stretch at home.

Hold the stick either at the tip of the middle toe (easier) or fifth toe (harder).  Keeping the heel down, glide the knee forward but around the outside of the stick.  You’ll notice how much more difficult it is to go around the stick versus just straight ahead or to the inside.  This is part of the trick to improving mobility of the ankle and it also strengths the muscles of your foot. Doing the stretch barefoot works best too.

This is a great exercise to not only treat plantarfasciitis but also to prevent it!
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Have a great rest of the month and talk to you again in June.

Joe Heiler PT