A Step Above Footwear, LLC: Dr. Linzner's view on plantar fascitis

A Step Above Footwear, LLC: "Ask Dr. Linzner

Docter Erwin Linzner has managed a chiropractic practice since 1994 in Rohnert Park, California. He uses manual manipulation, soft tissue manipulation and rehabilitation for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. He believes that wellness comes from healthful living, which includes proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep. These are the primary factors that prevent disease, but also need to be addressed in healing from any condition.

Plantar Fascitis

Plantar fascitis is condition of chronic inflammation in the fascia of the feet, hence the name. Symptoms include foot pain aggravated by walking or running. Also there generally is more stiffness and pain in the morning. Causes or aggravating factors are as follows: being overweight, avid runners, having reduced dorsiflexion in the foot, and wearing inappropriate footwear.

Let me first talk about the reduced dorsiflexion in the foot. Studies have shown that people that do not have good ability to move the hinge joint of the ankle have a higher probablity of plantar fascitis. This makes sense to me. Since the foot really acts as a shock absorber, and you cannot go through a normal range of motion, that force now has to be absorbed by your plantar fascia instead. This leads to chonic injury of that tissue, and seems to be very difficult to heal. Aggravating factor which multiply this force of impact of couse are running and being overweight. This seems logical. Good footwear should help you absorb that force, while also giving you good arch support."