Pain in the bottom of the foot, usually in the arch further back toward the heel, may be plantar fascitis. It is caused by injury or inflammation of the plantar (bottom of the foot) fascia. The plantar fascia is a band of fibrous connective tissue on the sole of the foot.
The pain may come on slowly, related to chronic pronation (a falling inward of the inside of the arch) combined with a “fallen” arch, or be more acute, due to an injury---landing hard on the sole of the foot, quick acceleration / deceleration when walking or running, or repetitive shock of hard heel strike during the gait cycle.
My treatment includes carefully aligning the bones of the foot with the Activator instrument, support of the arch with orthotics, exercises to strengthen the arch, stretches to maintain flexibility, and ice and other applications for inflammation.
The patient must not go barefoot---there must be NO weight-baring without orthotic support.
