Plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain in outpatient clinics, affecting around 10% of the population. Every year, more than 1 million people seek medical care for it. The condition is especially common among adults aged 40 to 60, and it shows up more often in women and in people with a BMI over 25.
If you’re on your feet all day or love to run, you’re even more at risk. Studies show runners can experience rates as high as 22%. But the stats only tell part of the story.
At The Disc Chiropractic in Wheat Ridge, I meet a lot of people who’ve been quietly dealing with heel pain often for far too long. Many have tried things like generic orthotics, painkillers, or stretching routines.
But those options don’t always get to the root of the problem. What’s often missing is a real look at why the plantar fascia is under stress in the first place
What Is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that involves the plantar fascia, its the thick, fibrous band of connective tissue that runs from your heel to the metatarsal heads near your toes. Its role is to stabilize the longitudinal arch and absorb impact when you start activities like walking..
When the fascia is exposed to repetitive stress, it begins to break down. In some cases, the tissue becomes inflamed. In others, it’s more of a degenerative process, what we call fasciosis, characterized by tissue thickening.
The result is pain, usually sharp and located near the heel. Most patients feel it during the first few steps in the morning. That’s because the fascia tightens overnight, and as you load it again, those microtears get stretched before they’re fully healed.
Common Causes of Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis
Conditions like pes planus (flat feet) or pes cavus (high arches) change the way your foot absorbs force. When your arch collapses too much or doesn’t absorb shock well, the plantar fascia has to work harder to support each step. That added tension leads to irritation where the fascia attaches at the heel.
Wearing Inadequate Footwear
Shoes without sufficient arch support or cushioning shift more stress onto the plantar fascia. Even supportive shoes wear down over time. I often see patients with heel pain who’ve been relying on old or poorly fitted footwear without realizing how much it’s affecting their biomechanics.
Tight Calves or Achilles Tendon
Tight gastrocnemius, soleus, or Achilles tendon, restricts proper ankle motion when you do even the simplest activities such as walking. When the ankle is restricted, the foot compensates and that extra strain falls right on the plantar fascia.
High-Impact Activity Without Recovery
Running or jumping on hard ground creates repetitive stress on the fascia. Over time, that leads to microtears in the tissue. If you’re not giving your body enough time to recover, those tears don’t heal properly and the pain becomes chronic.
Postural Imbalance
An anterior pelvic tilt or a leg length discrepancy shifts how you bear weight between your feet. That uneven load forces one side of your body, often one heel takes on more stress. As that builds up, so does tension through the fascia.
Is Your Heel Pain Really Plantar Fasciitis?
Not all heel pain is plantar fasciitis even if it feels like it. I’ve worked with plenty of patients who were told they had plantar fasciitis, but after a closer look, something else was going on entirely.
For example, heel spurs can irritate the soft tissue near the heel. Some people experience pain from fat pad atrophy, where the natural cushioning under the heel wears down. I also see cases where pain is actually referred from higher up, such as a herniated disc on the lower back or pelvic dysfunction affecting nerve flow or gait mechanics.
If we don’t identify the actual source of the pain, we risk treating the wrong thing.That’s why I take every heel pain case seriously.
How The Disc Chiropractic Treats Plantar Fasciitis
Shockwave Therapy
We use Shockwave Therapy with the Intelect RPW 2 to treat chronic plantar fasciitis. This device sends focused acoustic waves directly into the soft tissues around your foot, this process helps break up calcified scar tissue and trigger points, thus improving blood circulation, and triggers the body’s natural healing response.
FAQs About Plantar Fasciitis
What does plantar fasciitis feel like?
Most patients describe a stabbing pain near the heel, especially during the first steps in the morning or after prolonged rest.
Can chiropractic care help plantar fasciitis?
Yes. By correcting joint alignment, improving foot mechanics, and using soft tissue therapies, we reduce strain on the fascia and promote healing.
Is heel pain always plantar fasciitis?
No. Other conditions like heel spurs, nerve entrapments, or fat pad thinning can mimic similar symptoms. A proper exam helps determine the cause.
How long does it take to get relief from plantar fasciitis?
Some patients may feel instant relief within the first session using shockwave therapy. For more chronic cases, it often improves over 4–6 weeks with consistent treatment.
Do I need orthotics?
Sometimes. But we don’t use one-size-fits-all solutions — we assess your gait and posture first to determine if custom support is truly necessary.
Don’t Let Plantar Fasciitis Control Your Day
Our $97 New Patient Special is your first step toward lasting relief. At The Disc Chiropractic, we take the time to understand what’s really causing your heel pain whether it’s the fascia itself, your gait, or deeper postural issues.
You’ll leave your first visit with clear answers, a personalized plan, and treatment that actually makes sense.
Book an Appointment Now or Call: 720-573-4910