Physical Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis in Allen, TX

Summary

Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy in Allen, TX provides individualized physical therapy for plantar fasciitis and heel pain. Instead of focusing only on the painful spot, we look at your foot and ankle mobility, calf strength and flexibility, walking or running mechanics, activity level and other factors that may be contributing to the problem.

Key Takeaways

Plantar fasciitis commonly causes pain under the heel, often with the first few steps in the morning or after sitting.
Because heel pain can have different causes, treatment starts with an individualized evaluation.
AAPT looks at the foot, ankle and calf together—and when appropriate, how the rest of your body is moving.
Treatment follows The Reset Method: Reset the Nerve, Reeducate the Muscle and Reinforce with Movement.
Your plan may include manual therapy, strengthening and mobility exercises, POINT RESET® physical therapy services, gait or running guidance and aquatic therapy based on your needs.

That sharp pain under your heel can change the way you start your entire day.

Maybe those first few steps out of bed hurt. Maybe you've started cutting runs short, avoiding certain shoes or thinking twice about how long you'll be on your feet.

But where you feel the pain doesn't always tell the whole story.

At AAPT, we don't just look at your heel. We look at your foot and ankle mobility, calf strength and flexibility, how you're walking or running and what you're asking your body to do every day.

Then we build a plan around you, and what you want to get back to doing.

What Does Plantar Fasciitis Feel Like?

Plantar fasciitis often causes pain along the bottom of the heel and sometimes into the arch.

You may notice:

Sharp or stabbing heel pain with your first steps in the morning
Pain after sitting for a while and then standing up
Tenderness around the bottom of the heel or arch
Discomfort that increases after long periods of standing or walking
Heel pain during or after running, workouts or other activity

Those symptoms can be consistent with plantar fasciitis, but heel pain can have other causes too. That's one reason an evaluation is important before assuming the painful spot tells the whole story.

Signs It's Plantar Fasciitis

Heel or foot pain can show up in a few different ways, and plantar fasciitis has some tells:

Sharp or stabbing pain in the bottom of your heel with your first steps in the morning.
Pain that eases as you keep moving, then returns after standing or sitting for a while.
Tightness or tenderness along the arch, especially near where it meets the heel.
Discomfort that builds the longer you're on your feet, walking, or running.

If any of that sounds familiar, physical therapy is a reasonable next step before things get worse. For general background on the condition, the American Physical Therapy Association's patient guide to plantar fasciitis is a solid outside resource.

When Should You See a Physical Therapist for Heel Pain?

It may be time for an evaluation if heel pain keeps returning, isn't improving or is starting to change how you move.

Maybe you're limping for those first few steps in the morning. Maybe you're changing your running mechanics without realizing it. Or maybe standing through a workday has become something you have to think about.

Those changes matter.

Your physical therapist can evaluate your foot and ankle mobility, strength, walking or running mechanics, activity level and other factors that may be contributing.

Is It Plantar Fasciitis or Something Else?

Not every case of heel pain is plantar fasciitis.

Symptoms around the foot and heel may also be associated with the Achilles tendon, nerve irritation, bone stress or other conditions.

Instead of trying to diagnose yourself based on where it hurts, an evaluation can help determine what may be contributing and whether physical therapy is appropriate.

Patient Testimonials

“After Point reset it took the pain away instantly...”

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How AAPT Treats Plantar Fasciitis

Treatment at AAPT is guided by The Reset Method:

1. Reset the Nerve

We start by addressing areas that may be interfering with movement or normal muscle function.

Depending on your evaluation, this may include hands-on treatment, joint movement, mechanical pressure, POINT RESET® physical therapy services or other treatment strategies.

2. Reeducate the Muscle

Next, we work on strength and control through the foot, ankle and calf, and other areas when your evaluation shows they're part of the picture.

Your exercises are selected for your body and what you need to get back to doing.

3. Reinforce with Movement

Feeling better in the clinic is only part of the goal.

We want those changes to carry over when you're standing at work, walking, exercising, dancing or running.

Your home program helps reinforce what you're working on in the clinic and gives you tools to keep moving forward.

Your Plantar Fasciitis Treatment May Include

Depending on what we find during your evaluation, your plan may include:

Manual therapy and mobility work for the foot, ankle and calf
Therapeutic exercise to improve strength, mobility and movement control
POINT RESET® physical therapy services, developed by Dr. Cody Johnson, PT, DPT, ATC, which may be incorporated based on your evaluation and needs
Walking or running-mechanics guidance when movement patterns or training demands may be part of the picture
Footwear and activity guidance based on your routine and goals
Aquatic Therapy using our HydroWorx underwater treadmill when a lower-impact environment can help you keep moving
A customized home program to reinforce progress between visits

What we use, and when we use it, depends on you, your evaluation and how your body responds.

Plantar Fasciitis in Runners and Athletes

Heel pain can be especially frustrating when running or training is part of your routine.

Instead of automatically telling every athlete to stop, we look at your current symptoms, training load, strength, mobility and mechanics to determine what activity may be appropriate while you recover.

Your goal matters too.

Whether you're trying to get back to your normal weekly mileage, your next race or simply your regular workouts, your treatment plan should support what you're actually trying to return to.

Plantar Fasciitis in Dancers

Dancers place unique demands on the feet and ankles through repetitive loading, jumping, relevé, pointe work and hours of training.

AAPT's dance-focused care looks at those demands as part of the evaluation rather than treating a dancer's heel pain exactly like everyone else's.

When appropriate, we can also look at strength, mobility and movement throughout the rest of the body to see what may be contributing to the load on the foot.

When You're on Your Feet All Day

You don't have to be an athlete to have heel pain affect your life.

If your job keeps you standing or walking for hours, "just stay off it" may not be very realistic.

We look at the demands of your actual day and build your treatment and home program around what you need your feet to handle.

Contact Us

Phone: (214) 383 0623
Fax: (800) 213 4413

820 S Alma Drive, Suite 110
Allen, TX 75013

contact@aaphysicaltherapy.com

Hours:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday:

8:00AM - 5:30PM

Tuesday, Thursday:

9:00AM - 5:30PM

Schedule Appointment

Why Choose Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy

We look beyond your heel: Your foot, ankle and calf work together. When appropriate, we also look at how the rest of your body is moving.
Your plan is actually yours: A runner, dancer and someone standing on concrete all day shouldn't automatically receive the same plan. Your treatment is based on your evaluation and goals.
Treatment is guided by The Reset Method: Reset the Nerve. Reeducate the Muscle. Reinforce with Movement.
We have a lower-impact option when you need it: Our HydroWorx underwater treadmill gives us another way to work on walking and movement when reducing weight-bearing is appropriate.
Home of POINT RESET® physical therapy services: AAPT founder Dr. Cody Johnson, PT, DPT, ATC developed POINT RESET® physical therapy services, which may be incorporated into treatment based on your individual evaluation and needs.
We're one clinic and one team: AAPT is an independent physical therapy clinic in Allen. We get to know our patients, what they want to get back to doing and what progress looks like for them.

Ready to Stop Working Around Your Heel Pain?

If heel pain is changing how you walk, work, exercise, run or start your day, let's take a closer look at what's going on.

Athletic Advantage Physical Therapy is located in Allen, TX and serves patients throughout Plano, McKinney, Frisco and surrounding Collin County communities.

Call (214) 383-0623 or schedule your evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does plantar fasciitis usually feel like?

Plantar fasciitis commonly causes pain under the heel, particularly with the first few steps in the morning or after sitting for a period of time. Because other conditions can also cause heel pain, an evaluation can help determine what may be contributing.

Can physical therapy help with plantar fasciitis?

Physical therapy can address mobility, strength, activity demands and movement factors that may be contributing to plantar fasciitis. Your treatment is based on your individual evaluation rather than a standard heel-pain protocol.

Do I have to stop running or working out?

Not necessarily. Depending on your symptoms and evaluation, your physical therapist may recommend modifying certain activities rather than stopping everything. The goal is to find an appropriate way to keep you moving while working toward your return to full activity.

How long does plantar fasciitis take to improve?

Recovery time varies depending on your symptoms, how long they've been present, your activity demands and other individual factors. Your physical therapist can give you a better idea of what to expect after evaluating you and seeing how you respond to treatment.

Do I need a doctor's referral?

Texas allows qualifying physical therapists to evaluate and treat patients without first obtaining a physician referral, subject to state requirements. Insurance requirements may vary, so contact our team if you're unsure what you need before your first visit.