Take a Step Towards Relief
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It occurs when the plantar fascia, a thick band of tissue that connects your heel to the front of your foot, becomes inflamed or irritated.
This condition often develops gradually and can cause sharp, stabbing pain near the heel, especially with your first morning steps or after long periods of rest.
What is Plantar Fasciosis?
Plantar fasciosis is a chronic, degenerative condition of the plantar fascia. Unlike plantar fasciitis, this ailment develops over time from ongoing strain, microtears, and reduced blood flow to the tissue. This results in weakening, thickening, and degeneration of the fascia rather than acute inflammation found with plantar fasciitis.
Common Causes
- Overuse or repetitive strain (running, walking long distances, standing all day)
- Flat feet, high arches, or improper footwear
- Tight calf muscles or Achilles tendons
- Poor foot mechanics or alignment issues
- Sudden increase in physical activity
- Weight changes that add pressure to the feet
If left untreated, plantar fasciitis/fasciosis can lead to chronic pain, altered gait, and secondary issues in the knees, hips, or lower back.
Common Symptoms
You may experience one or more of the following:
- Sharp, heel pain, especially first thing in the morning AKA “Glass Heel”
- Tenderness along the bottom of the foot
- Pain that worsens after standing, walking, or running
- Stiffness in the foot or ankle
- Difficulty bearing weight comfortably
Hosmer Chiropractic Health provides effective, non-invasive care for plantar fasciitis, plantar fasciosis, and foot pain throughout the greater Portland, Oregon metro area. Our chiropractors and massage therapists use proven techniques to relieve heel pain, reduce inflammation, and restore natural movement to help you walk, run, and live comfortably again.
Practitioner List
The following providers specialize in Plantar Fasciitis/Fasciosis treatment.
Pearl District
Multnomah Village
Oregon City
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
At Hosmer, we treat plantar fasciitis and plantar fasciosis by addressing both the pain and the underlying mechanical issues that create chronic stress on the plantar fascia. Our goal is to restore normal foot mechanics, promote tissue, healing, and reduce the chance of recurrence.
Our treatment may include:
- Chiropractic adjustments: Gentle corrections to the foot, ankle, and lower extremity joints to restore proper motion and reduce stress on the plantar fascia.
- Soft tissue therapy and myofascial release: Focused work on the calf, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia to relieve tightness and promote healing.
- Class IV laser therapy: High-powered laser treatment that reduces inflammation, stimulates tissue repair, and accelerates recovery.
- Shockwave therapy: A cutting-edge treatment that uses acoustic pressure waves to stimulate healing, improve blood flow, break down scar tissue, and reduce chronic heel pain.
- Gait and posture analysis: Identifying improper movement patterns or muscle imbalances contributing to foot strain.
- Rehabilitative exercises: Customized stretching and strengthening routines to improve flexibility and support proper biomechanics.
- Orthotic and/or footwear guidance: Recommendations to support arch stability and reduce repetitive stress on the heel and fascia.
Our evidence-based approach not only relieves pain but also promotes long-term foot health and mobility.
Our Treatment Approach
In addition to the typical treatments, our chiropractors take a deeper approach to understand and correct the root cause of chronic heel pain.
Heel spurs may be part of the problem.They often develop when the plantar fascia repeatedly pulls (or “tractions”) on the heel bone. Over time, the body responds by laying down extra bone at the traction site. These spurs are rarely the sole cause of pain, but they are a sign of ongoing stress that needs to be corrected.
The keys to fixing plantar fasciitis and/or plantar fasciosis frequently include the following steps:
- Step 1: Calm down the pain so the tissue can heal.
We begin by reducing irritation and improving circulation using Class IV laser therapy, shockwave therapy, soft tissue mobilization, and chiropractic adjustments. When pain settles, the fascia can begin to repair normally. - Step 2: Prevent re-injury with nighttime support.
Many patients benefit from a night splint. During sleep, the plantar fascia shortens. When you take your first steps in the morning, that newly healed tissue is suddenly stretched and partially re-torn. A night splint keeps the tissue elongated to encourage proper healing and reduce morning pain. - Step 3: Restore joint motion in the entire foot.
Plantar fasciitis rarely affects only one area. We often find motion restrictions in the calcaneus (heal bone) and the mid-foot, both of which alter load distribution across the plantar fascia. Adjustments to these joints improve foot mechanics and reduce strain. This is why stretches such as the Plantar Supernova and calf stretching are so important. - Step 4: Strengthen the feet.
Lasting recovery depends on strong, resilient feet. We teach targeted exercises to improve arch control, intrinsic foot strength, and lower-leg stability so your feet can absorb stress more evenly and function the way they should.
Dr. Dylan Savage relieved my foot and leg pain that a podiatrist and a neurologist could not figure out. He is a miracle worker.
R.R. | Hosmer Patient
What to Expect from Plantar Fasciitis / Fasciosis Treatment.
Q: How long does it take to recover from plantar fasciitis?
A: Many patients feel significant relief within 2-3 weeks of consistent care, though complete recovery can take several months depending on condition severity.
Q: How long does it take to recover from plantar fasciosis?
A: Recovery from plantar fasciosis typically takes longer than recovery from plantar fasciitis because the condition involves chronic tissue degeneration rather than acute inflammation. Most patients begin to notice improvement within 2-3 weeks of consistent chiropractic treatment. Full recovery often takes 1-2+ months, depending on the degeneration severity.
Q: Can chiropractic care really help with foot pain?
A: Yes. We address how your feet, ankles, knees, and hips work together. Correcting alignment and muscle balance can relieve pressure on the plantar fascia and improve long-term function.
Q: What is Class IV laser therapy and how long does it help?
A: It’s an advanced, therapeutic laser that uses light energy to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and stimulate healing in the affected tissues.
Q: What is Shockwave therapy?
A: It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy acoustic pressure waves to stimulate healing in injured or painful tissues. These waves increase blood flow, break down scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and encourage cellular repair. Shockwave therapy is especially effective for chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis, tendinopathies, and stubborn soft-tissue injuries that haven’t responded to other treatments. Many patients experience reduced pain and improved mobility after just a few sessions.
Q: Do I need orthotics?
A: Not always. We evaluate each patient individually and may recommend custom or over-the-counter orthotics or specialized footwear to support proper foot mechanics.
Q: Should I try cortisone shots?
A: We recommend to not do cortisone injections because it weakens the tissue.
