November 24, 2021

Massage For Plantar Fasciitis

There are some types of foot arch pain that are not caused by plantar fasciitis. However, this inflammation of the flexible band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot is the single most common cause of foot pain in North America. Massaging plantar fasciitis can be a very effective treatment.

You can check out a foot pain identifier to see if plantar fasciitis may be what’s causing your heel or foot arch pain. Better still, you should have your doctor confirm before starting treatment or exercise program.

Ignoring plantar fasciitis pain and carrying as usual in hopes that it will eventually resolve itself is a foolish move — it just doesn’t happen and can result in serious damage to your feet.

Plantar Tears
- You probably won’t be aware that these small tears are even happening at the time, but they are weakening the tissue and leaving it vulnerable to rupture.

Plantar Ruptures
- If you have plantar fasciitis and continue high impact sports and activities without appropriate treatment, or if you spend long hours on your feet in unsupportive footwear, your simple case of plantar fasciitis could become a complicated rupture. Besides being excruciatingly painful, a ruptured plantar fascia will definitely keep you completely off your foot for weeks while it heals; you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid it.
Heel Spurs
- Untreated plantar fasciitis may contribute to the development of heel spurs over time. In an attempt to aid with healing of the inflamed tissue, the body sends extra calcium to the site, which can build up protuberances on the heel bone, causing more irritation and inflammation of the plantar fascia.

So What Will Make Your Plantar Fasciitis Worse?

Sudden changes to the intensity of your workouts or activities can put extra strain on the tissues in your feet, resulting in inflammation, contraction and pain. When running with plantar fasciitis, it’s crucial to properly stretch and rest the affected foot for adequate periods of time. However, if you fail to follow through with treatment will slow healing and keep the inflammation and pain coming back.

What Will Make It Better?

Gently stretching the affected fascia
Giving your feet adequate recovery time between workouts
Wearing properly fitting footwear with a good supportive foundation
Massage.

Massaging Plantar Fasciitis Is A Highly Effective Treatment

Fascia is a connective tissue that is found all over the human body, containing nerves that render it nearly as sensitive as your skin. The fascia contracts when it’s stressed, which is what’s happening on the bottom of your feet during a bout of plantar fasciitis. This amazing tissue contains fluid that helps it to stay flexible, stretching with each movement. Go ahead and take a few very slow steps right now in your bare feet. You’ll then observe the myriad of micro movements your feet go through to make each step happen. The organic rolling motion — the stretching and contracting of your plantar fascia is a critical part of that dance. When the fascia becomes tight and dry, it can no longer stretch as it needs to and walking becomes very painful, even difficult.

Massaging your plantar fasciitis (along the bottom of your foot) will help to get the fluid moving again to increase flexibility and reduce pain. A professional massage therapist understands the structure of the plantar fascia and will use specific pressure points and stretching techniques in your foot, heel, and calf to soften & lengthen the contracted tissue, restore mobility and relieve pain. With proper circulation and movement, the body is even able to flush out the toxins that cause inflammation and begin to heal itself.

At Easy Cozy Wellness in Abbotsford, BC, our therapists are extensively trained and experienced, successfully treating plantar fasciitis pain through specific reflexology massage techniques that have been carefully developed over time. Call or visit our online booking page today to book an appointment and let us help your feet start moving as they were meant to again.

For a broad overview of many different types of foot pain, read our new article, Finding Foot Pain Relief.