Plantar Fasciitis

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Is plantar fasciitis causing your first few steps in the morning to be more of a hobble than a hop?

You might wonder how much longer you’ll have to deal with this dull or piercing pain — or if it’s going to get worse. Know that you’re not alone. Plantar fasciitis is a very common foot condition. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean you have to live with it.

At Cleveland Clinic, we can help you find pain relief so you can put your best foot forward.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Osteoarthritis Care?

Demonstrated expertise:

Our specialists and surgeons have extensive training and experience diagnosing and treating a wide range of foot and ankle conditions, including plantar fasciitis. Meet our team.

Collaborative care:

At Cleveland Clinic, we work as a team to provide the comprehensive, personalized care you need. Our team includes orthopaedic surgeons, podiatrists (specialists who treat foot, ankle and lower leg conditions), sports medicine providers, nurse clinicians, certified pedorthists (shoe insert specialists) and technicians.

Innovation and research:

We’re committed to providing you with the newest, most research-driven care and surgery options including minimally invasive, tissue-sparing and robotic procedures.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Virtual visits:

We want your care to be convenient. That’s why we now offer virtual visits for some appointments. If you have an internet connection and smartphone, tablet or computer, you can talk one-one-one with your providers from home, work or even your favorite coffee shop. The first visit for plantar fasciitis can be virtual to discuss your symptoms and the next steps for care.

Plantar Fasciitis Diagnosis at Cleveland Clinic

Your healthcare provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam of your foot. Red flags that typically point to plantar fasciitis include:

Pain when you apply pressure to your plantar fascia (the rubber band-like ligament that stretches from your heel to your toes).
Difficulty raising your toes or experiencing tingling or loss of feeling in your foot.
Pain that’s worse in the morning and gets better throughout the day as you use your feet.

To rule out other conditions that cause foot pain, such as a stress fracture, tendinitis, arthritis or a plantar fibroma, your provider may order imaging tests, including:

X-rays: An X-ray will show a general overview of your foot’s bones and joints.
Bone scan: Providers use this test to diagnose a bone fracture (break) when it’s not visible on an X-ray.
Ultrasound: A musculoskeletal ultrasound uses sound waves to see what’s happening in the soft tissues, tendons, ligaments and nerves of your foot.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnetic waves instead of X-rays to show more detailed pictures of your foot.

Providers Who Treat Plantar Fasciitis

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.

Plantar Fasciitis Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

When at-home remedies like stretching your calf muscles or massaging your foot aren’t enough to relieve your plantar fasciitis pain, it’s important to see a healthcare provider. That’s where we come in. Our experts can tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs so you can get back to doing the things you enjoy.

Non-surgical treatments for plantar fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis usually improves with simple, modest treatments. Our specialists may recommend:

Over-the-counter or custom shoe inserts (orthotics) or arch supports.
Using a night splint (brace) to reduce tightness in your calf muscle.
Using crutches.
Taking anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen.
Physical therapy.

If your pain doesn’t get better after six to eight weeks, your provider may recommend steroid injections.

Surgical treatment for plantar fasciitis

It’s rare to need surgery for plantar fasciitis. But after a year, if you’re still not feeling relief, your provider might recommend:

Minimally invasive hydroresection: This office-based procedure removes the degenerative material that’s causing your plantar fascia to swell.
Gastronemius recession: This surgery lengthens your calf (gastronemius) muscles, which loosens them and puts less stress on your plantar fascia.
Plantar fascia release: In this surgery, our surgeons partially cut your plantar fascia to relieve some of the tension.

Taking the Next Step

When your feet hurt, nothing feels right. Foot pain can impact your daily life and make even the simplest tasks (like getting out of bed) annoying, uncomfortable — and sometimes downright excruciating. If you have pain of any kind, it’s a good idea to call your healthcare provider. You’ll want to be sure the pain isn’t caused by a condition that needs more advanced care. We’re ready to help you take the next step toward happy, healthy feet.