Plantar Fasciitis Pain? Learn How Massage Can Help You Walk Comfortably Again
Do you wake up with sharp heel pain in the morning? Does standing for long hours make your feet ache unbearably? You might be dealing with plantar fasciitis, a common cause of heel pain caused by inflammation and tightness in the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot.
What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis often develops due to:
Tight calf muscles and achilles tendon
Overuse or standing long hours
Flat feet or high arches
Improper footwear
Sudden increases in activity levels
The plantar fascia supports your arch and absorbs shock with every step. When it becomes tight or inflamed, it can cause stabbing pain, especially with your first steps in the morning.
How Massage Can Help Plantar Fasciitis
Massage therapy is a natural and effective way to reduce tension and discomfort associated with plantar fasciitis. Here's how it helps:
Releases tight muscles
Massage focuses on releasing tension in the calf muscles (gastrocnemius and soleus) which connect to the achilles tendon and impact plantar fascia tightness.
Improves circulation
By increasing blood flow to the foot and lower leg, massage helps bring oxygen and nutrients to the tissues, supporting healing.
Breaks up adhesions
Massage techniques, such as myofascial release, can reduce restriction in the fascia, improving mobility and easing pain.
Reduces stress on the fascia
Relaxing surrounding muscles reduces the pull and strain on the plantar fascia relieving discomfort with walking or standing.
Best Massage Techniques for Plantar Fasciitis
At Pinnacle Therapeutics Massage, we use specific techniques to help clients with plantar fasciitis, including:
Myofascial release
Trigger point therapy
Deep tissue massage
Massage is an excellent supportive therapy to ease plantar fasciitis pain. According to a study done in 2014, patients receiving myofascial release experience around a 72% reduction in pain after 4 weeks, and sustained 60% pain reduction even 8 weeks later.
