Recently, I have noticed an increase in the number of clients who are seeking treatment for pain in their heels and arches. They are often diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, which seems to be the diagnosis of the new millennium. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the fascia (soft tissues) of the sole of the foot, often complicated by plantar flexion.

A common thread with clients that have plantar fasciitis is that there was existing structural imbalance before the symptoms appeared. I find this to be true in 90% of clients that present for treatment with plantar fasciitis. The activities of the clients that actually directly affect the heel would very possibly not cause inflammation and strain of the plantar fascia if the distortion of the structural balance was not already affecting the client’s arches and heels. Evidence to this effect is that prior to having plantar fasciitis, each client had years of using his/her feet in the same way without having the painful symptoms.

To effectively treat plantar fasciitis you need to also treat the structural imbalance from the low back down the leg to the foot that causes the relationship of the foot to the ground to be changed.

Some of the most common structural distortions that I find with people who have plantar fasciitis symptoms are:

· foot rotated laterally

· arches inverted

· knees hyperextended

· knee medially rotated

· ilium rotated anteriorly

· one or both shoulders internally rotated

For treatment to be effective for plantar fasciitis I have found that I have to first correct the significant structural distortion so that the foot is able to relate to the ground in balance. This essentially takes away the initial cause for the strain and the inflammation. It is then appropriate to work on the tissues that directly affect the plantar fascia. These I consider to be any of the soft tissues from the knee to the toes. I pay special attention to the gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, peroneus brevis, extensor digitorum, popliteus, plantaris, and all the muscles and soft tissue of the feet. Again, I find the three-step approach to be most effective to: first, initially release fluids, toxins and trigger points; second, release the myofascial holding patterns; and third, work on the individual fibers that may be strained or formed into adhesions and even holding mineral deposits.

- Don McCann, MA, LMT, LMHC – founder Structural Energetic Therapy, Inc.