When the first step out of bed produces pain at the bottom of the foot and discomfort intensifies after walking or running, it is likely to be plantar fasciitis.
Who gets plantar fasciitis?
Almost anyone can develop this issue, but there are some common risk factors:
- Runners
- Dancers
- Women who wear flats or high heels
- People who stand or sit for extended periods
- Middle-aged adults
- People who are overweight
Plantar fascia
The plantar fascia is on the sole, between the base of the toes and the heel. This layer of fibrous connective tissue lies beneath the skin. It is also known as the plantar aponeurosis.
The plantar fascia has many functions, including absorbing shock as you step and reducing wear and tear on your legs and spine. The plantar fascia also helps the foot to make subtle mechanical changes during stance and gait.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis arises when the soft tissues on the bottom of the foot become chronically tight. The myofascia shortens while elasticity diminishes. When a fasciitis occurs, micro-tears and inflammation produce pain and dysfunction. Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis are similar. Both create pain and inflammation on the sole, just in front of the heel. Both share the same risk factors.
Plantar fasciitis results from chronically tight posterior leg and back muscles. These muscles include the calf, hamstring, and gluteal muscles. Additionally, alignment issues in the hip, knee, ankle, and foot create mechanical strain and may contribute to plantar fasciitis. According to the National Institute of Health, plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heal pain.
Rolfing® or Structural Integration for Plantar Fasciitis
Rolfing is a perfect approach to reestablish the length, flexibility, and alignment of the soft tissue structures of the leg, foot, and whole body.
Rolfing is not a symptom-oriented approach. Rolfer’s look at the whole structure.
When a person stands in profile, how does their body stack up in the field of gravity? Is the head directly over the shoulder, the shoulder over the hip, the hip over the knee, and the knee over the ankle? Is the body well organized in the field of gravity around a central vertical axis? Structure and function are intimately related. When the body is well organised, it works better.
For anyone new to Structural Integration, Rolfer’s use a ten-session series to address the whole structure. Each session has a focus with the overall goal of improving balance within the structure in the field of gravity. Problems are addressed within this greater context.
During a Rolfing series, chronic tensions are reduced.
The entire body is encouraged to lengthen, reorganize, and develop more efficient movement patterns. Myofascial shortening in the soft tissue is addressed. As alignment improves, legs and feet can become lighter and more efficient. As chronic muscle tension is reduced and proper biomechanics are restored, micro tears and inflamed fascia can heal. Foot pain becomes a memory.
“A man’s tracks tell quite a true story. They inform quietly about ankles and knees, but they shout the news about hips and pelvis. If one foot is consistently exerted [tilted onto its inner edge], the ankle, the knee, or, perhaps more likely, the entire pelvic basin is rotated.”– Ida P. Rolf