Plantar Fasciitis
Why does my heel hurt on the first few steps?
What happens at my first visit?
If sitting brings on that familiar heel pain, show me those first few steps. We can compare the same walk after changing the support under your foot.
During treatment, we’ll check the movement again and use what changes to decide what to try next. [11]
Free 30- to 45-minute hands-on evaluation in Clovis. Choose whether to continue. One-on-one treatment is $200 per hour.
Near Willow and Nees in North Clovis · Open in Google Maps
Why do those first steps matter?
The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue under your foot. It helps support your arch as you stand and push off. Pain near the inside of the heel on the first steps after rest makes me think about the plantar fascia. I also check for other explanations, like an irritated nerve or a stress injury in the heel bone. [1, 2]
What changes when you put your shoes on?
Tell me which shoes feel better and how long you can stay on your feet in them. I’ll look at how your ankle moves and how you push off. Less ankle motion and more time on your feet have both been linked with plantar fasciitis. I want to see whether changing either one actually changes your heel pain. [3, 4]
What do you feel on the same walk?
We can walk the same stretch of hallway before and after a change in support or hands-on work. If the heel feels exactly the same, tell me. I can change what I’m doing. Taping can help some people in the short term. The next thing I want to hear is how your first steps feel after you’ve been sitting at home. [5]
Debbie’s story
Debbie described what it meant to be able to walk comfortably again after longstanding foot pain.
“I started walking and realized I had no pain! I was actually able to walk very easily along the beach in Barbados when we celebrated our 40th anniversary this past summer.”
Frequently asked questions
Why can I walk for half an hour, but getting up after dinner hurts again?
I’d ask about the walk and about the first steps after dinner. We can compare walking before and after sitting briefly, if that brings on what you recognize. Those first steps are worth tracking on their own.
It felt better when I left. What should I notice tomorrow morning?
Think about your first few steps to the bathroom or kitchen. Were they easier, and did the soreness settle sooner than usual? That tells us more about your morning than repeating a test over and over.
Why do my work shoes feel fine but walking barefoot to the kitchen hurts?
I’d ask what floor you’re on, when it happens, and how the first few steps compare. If we can reproduce it, we can compare those steps with the support you normally have in your shoes.
It still hurts when I stand up, but it goes away faster. Is that progress?
That’s a change I’d want to know about. If it used to hurt all the way to the kitchen and now it eases halfway there, we have something specific to compare next time.
Should I stretch or strengthen my foot?
Both can have a place. Research supports stretching the plantar fascia, and a trial found that progressive heel raises improved symptoms faster at three months than stretching alone with the same inserts. I’ll look at what you can tolerate now and how your heel responds the following day. [6, 7]
Do I need custom orthotics?
An insert can be worth trying if it helps you stay on your feet. Research has found some medium-term pain benefit from orthoses, with similar results for prefabricated and custom options in the studies reviewed. [8]
What if I’ve already tried injections or been offered shockwave therapy?
Tell me how long the relief lasted and what you could do during that time. A review found limited evidence that steroid injections outperform placebo. Shockwave therapy is an option to discuss if symptoms persist after initial care. [9, 10]
When should I get it checked sooner?
Seek prompt medical assessment if you suddenly can’t bear weight after an injury, or if the heel becomes hot, red, and swollen and you feel unwell.
What happens at the first visit?
Bring the shoes you wear most and tell me how much walking you need to get through a normal day. We’ll talk through what we find and decide what next step makes sense.