FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are several questions that I am asked on a regular basis in my clinic
DO NIGHT SPLINTS HELP?
Yes!!! This question is answered more in depth in the book. The right night splint applied correctly to the foot can make a huge difference!
DOES TAPING HELP WITH PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
Yes!!! Absolutely!! There are several tape jobs that can really help plantar fasciitis. I use two tape jobs that are very simple to do on your own!! They work.
SHOULD I ICE MY ARCHES?
Yes and no! Icing does reduce inflammation but is also tightens the plantar fascia ligaments. If you ice and then immediately step down and bear weight on your foot you may do more damage. If you ice you must take at least 15 minutes to “thaw” and warm up your foot before you stand up.
ARE THERE CERTAIN SHOES I SHOULD WEAR TO REDUCE PAIN IN MY ARCH?
Shoes are critical. They can make or break the recovery from plantar fasciitis. My book discusses this in depth. There is no best shoe for all feet. Everyone’s feet are different and so there will be different shoes that will be more effective for each person. There are some interesting studies that show how to pick the shoe that is right for you. I will discuss this more in depth in my book.
DOES WEARING ORTHOTICS HELP ARCH PAIN?
Absolutely!! We uses certain arches all of the time that really help, although an arch that is too big or too hard may cause more pain.
SHOULD I USE A CUSTOM MADE ORTHOTIC OR AN OFF THE SHELF ORTHOTIC TO HELP MY PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
Good question. There is a good study that shows that custom made orthotics are good but an off-the-shelf orthotic may be just as good, or better!
DOES THE WAY I RUN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
Yes, it can. It is fairly complicated and we address this in my book. Your initial contact of the foot while running is critical and there are certain angles that are better to help with plantar fasciitis.
SHOULD I STOP RUNNING WHILE I HAVE PLANTAR FASCIITIS?
We have most of our runners cut back on mileage while we are working on them. We try not have them stop, but occasionally if the damage is severe we will have them stop for a short period.