1 out of 10 people will deal with plantar fasciitis in their lifetime. [1] Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, a large band of tissue that connects the bottom of your heel to the ball of your foot. The plantar fascia is responsible for giving your foot structure stability.
Common treatments for plantar fasciitis include cortisone injections, orthotics, stretching, and over-the-counter medications. In less than 5% of cases, people affected with plantar fasciitis that is not getting better despite these treatments, opt for surgery.
Many people, especially those that want to avoid surgery, or have been dealing with pain for so long are looking for natural treatments for plantar fasciitis. Here are 7 natural treatments, that I use at my clinic, or recommend to my patients for plantar fasciitis.
7 Natural Treatments for Plantar Fasciitis
Table of Contents:
Holistic podiatry
Holistic podiatry, also known as function podiatry, is a concentration within podiatry where the whole patient is taken into account. This allows your foot doctor to get to the root cause of the diagnosis, and then correct this, in order to get rid of foot pain. Holistic podiatry includes considering the patient's diet, lifestyle, hydration, other chronic health issues, genetic factors, mental health, environmental toxin exposure, and more.
Holistic podiatry is the first, and the foundation treatment when it comes to natural treatments for plantar fasciitis. If there are imbalances or burdens in the body, chronic inflammation can set in, which leads to chronic pain. Removing or managing these burdens correctly, through a functional medicine protocol, allows the body to get rid of chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia, and allows the body to heal itself.
Muscle training
After a holistic podiatry workup, usually, for plantar fasciitis patients who have been dealing with pain for a while, muscle training is critical.
One of the risk factors for developing plantar fasciitis is muscle imbalances in the feet and legs. Targeted muscle training helps to restore this balance, take extra pressure off of the plantar fascia, and allow for healing to begin. Muscle training is a key part of natural treatments for plantar fasciitis.
Vascular Therapy
Your foot is the furthest point from the heart on your body, and because of this, the amount of blood that your foot gets is the lowest in your body.
A healthy amount of blood flow is key for healing.
In vascular therapy, a device is connected to your leg through different electrodes. Then this device is turned on, and electrical waves are sent to your legs, specifically the muscles of your legs and feet, causing muscle contractions.
When these muscles contract, a higher volume of blood is forced through the microscopic blood vessels in the foot. Microscopic circulation supplies oxygen and nutrients to your nerve cells, tendons, ligaments, and joint tissues, which facilitates healing of injured and degenerated cells.
Vascular therapy also helps with removing inflammatory infiltrates, which are byproducts of cells that cause chronic inflammation.
Vascular therapy is non-invasive, and an important new tool in the treatment of pain and inflammation, where less than adequate blood flow to the pain or injury site is a concern.
Vascular therapy can dramatically improve the body's natural healing abilities and is very worth looking into as part of your holistic foot and ankle pain treatment.
Downsides of Vascular Therapy:
Time consuming - Each therapy visit is 1 hr, a should be done 2-3 times a week for a minimum of 2-3 months.
Can cause uncomfortable muscle spasms during treatment. Is relieved by turning down the intensity of the device.
Can cause temporary tightness and soreness of legs, which usually resolves by the 3rd to 4th treatment
Homeopathic Injections
Most people know homeopathy when it comes to getting through cold or flu symptoms, but homeopathy can also be used for chronic pain, especially as a natural treatment for plantar fasciitis, in the form of a shot or injection.
Homeopathic injections contain ultra-diluted plant or mineral toxins that are drawn to the tissues they are being injected around and will signal a detoxification response by the immune system.
Homeopathic injections also force a detox pathway, which is followed by a repair pathway.
Homeopathic injections are the gentlest form of regenerative injections you can use. They are mild and safe, they do not suppress chronic inflammation but do stimulate primary inflammation which is necessary for an immune response, and healing. Homeopathic injections also don't damage the surrounding tissues.
Downsides of homeopathic injections:
On occasion, someone could potentially have an allergy to any homeopathic injection, though this is rare.
It's unpredictable as to know how many injections will be needed, may require secondary therapy (Prolotherapy, PRP, exosomes)
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is another natural treatment for plantar fasciitis, that comes in injectable form.
A shot containing "proliferants" are injected around your plantar fascia, this causes the cell membranes of your plantar fascia to become irritated, which then causes a low-level tissue injury, and will force the immune system to repair this injury.
These proliferants stimulate the deposition of collagen networks via fibroblasts (the cells that heal connective tissue and bone after injury), which travel to the area of injection and begin the repair process.
The goal of prolotherapy is to change the signal that the immune system is getting from an old injury to a "new" one. This will allow primary inflammation to begin, and then cellular regeneration or repair.
Downsides of Prolotherapy:
Can cause a temporary pain increase for 1-3 days after the 1st injection
Can require you to to wear a walking or CAM boot if prolotherapy is being used to treat tendons and ligaments.
Can require multiple injections to foster repair
Not all patients will heal completely, some will require secondary therapy (PRP, exosomes)
PRP
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is more well-known as a treatment option for many types of pain and injuries, including as a natural treatment for plantar fasciitis.
Your blood is drawn and spun down in a machine called a centrifuge. The blood separates into layers. Your blood plasma is gold in color, more liquid, and has the most healing properties of all parts of your blood including your own body's stem cells. Your blood plasma is then injected into the injury site.
Your blood plasma contains platelets, growth factors, and enzymes which when injected in a concentrated form, help to jump-start healing of the injury site, which would be the plantar fascia in this example.
PRP works with the immune system to stimulate healing via the stimulation of injury to the affected tissues. It's normal for platelets to build up in an area of injury to begin the healing/repair process.
PRP sends a stronger push to repair than homeopathic injections or prolotherapy and is a great option as a natural treatment for plantar fasciitis.
Downsides of PRP:
The inflammatory reaction post-PRP injection can be painful
For some patients, a walking or CAM boot will need to be worn
This should not be done to people with low platelets, on immunosuppressive therapy, or on anti-inflammatories
Expensive
Works in 60-70% of patients
Acellular Exosomes
Acellar exosomes are an all-natural sterilized product that contains exosomes, and other extracellular vesicles. This product is isolated from its parent cells and contains no cells.
When exosomes are injected, they are attracted to target cells that are "in need" by certain cell receptors that your body has. Once absorbed, they release their contents into your cells. This information assists with cellar reprogramming, including helping with repair and regeneration.
The plus side of using acellular exosomes as a natural treatment for plantar fasciitis is that they do not lead to a rejection reaction because this product does not have the same immune markers.
Acellular exosomes have over 200 growth factors, collagen, protein, anti-inflammatory cytokines, nutrients, and hyaluronic acid. Acellular exosomes create an oxygen-rich environment for healing, also has lubricating properties that allow the treated area to move much easier, thus working very well in joints as well, and generally do not require immobilization through a CAM or walking boot.
Acellular exosomes have the highest success rate out of all of the potential injections when it comes to natural treatments for plantar fasciitis, being in the 90% range, along with a functional medicine protocol.
Downsides of Acellular Exosomes:
Expensive
Some patients may require a second injection
Does not work 100% of the time
Key Takeaways
There are many options available if you or a loved one are looking into the world of natural treatments for plantar fasciitis. A functional medicine protocol, or a holistic podiatry approach, paired with these treatments can lead to profound healing. As always, find a local doctor who is knowledgeable, and specializes in these treatments to see if any are the right fit for you.
Schedule Your Appointment at Direct Podiatry Arizona Today
Are you looking for a podiatrist in Phoenix that offers holistic podiatry, and natural treatments for plantar fasciitis? My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona in Tempe. I do offer a free 15-minute consultation, for potential patients. To view my available appointment times, click here.
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