How Massage Helps Plantarfasciitis

The main symptoms of Plantarfasciitis are:

• Pain in the heel
• Pain in the arch of the foot
• Tightness in the Achilles Tendon
• Swelling around the heel
• General stiffness or tightness in the foot

Plantarfasciitis is caused by inflammation in the Plantar Fascia, which are strong fibres similar to ligaments that run from your heels to the balls of your feet & form the arch of your foot, they generally only become inflamed when they are overused or stretched too far. 

The most common causes of this are:

• Being on your feet all day
• Exercising on a hard surface
• Playing sports without properly warming up
• Wearing shoes that don’t support your feet well enough
• Flat feet/high arches

How Does Massage Treat Plantarfasciitis?

Studies have shown that massage is great for reducing inflammation in the muscles, this is one of the reasons why a lot of athletes receive Sports Massage after a game or practice session. The reduction in inflammation in the Plantar Fascia from a massage is the main reason massage is so effecive at eliminating Plantarfasciitis!

Massage also reduces tension that is built up in the feet, ankles & lower leg muscles which is a great way to releive the aches, pains & tightness that people experience with Plantarfasciitis. When combined with Myofascial Release techniques aimed at relieving tension in the Achilles Tendon & some general stretching of the calves & feet clients will generally report their Plantarfasciitis symptoms to completely clear up after 2 or 3 Sports Massage sessions.

This was the case for John, a client of mine who had developed Plantarfasciitis from his job as a Hospital Porter. 

From his initial consultation we were able to figure out that the repetitive strain his job was putting on his feet over the years was the cause of his Plantarfasciitis.

Using some Sports Massage Techniques on John's lower legs & feet, alongside some Myofascial Release & stretching I was able to eliminate John's Plantarfasciitis. In the months following John's first session he reported that the pain had not returned, he felt he was able to stand taller & his feet & ankles felt like they were easier to move around.

If you have Plantarfasciitis book yourself a Sports Massage below