Heel pain can range from mildly irritating or annoying pain after standing or sitting for long periods to more debilitating pain that makes movement difficult. Sufferers of plantar fasciitis generally experience pain upon first rising in the morning and after sitting for a length of time.
Not every case of plantar fasciitis will find relief with reflexology, or even modern medical procedures, such as iontophoresis, cortisone shots and surgery. However, this form of bodywork applied to the feet may be a tool worth considering for its noninvasive nature and holistic approach to wellness.
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
Often considered a condition creating chronic inflammation, plantar fasciitis can be caused by a change in the collagen and cells of this fibrous band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot. This band is attached to the large bone in the heel of the foot known as the calcaneous. It runs from the calcaneous up towards the arch of the foot and is responsible for shock absorption and support of the longitudinal arch.
Those more susceptible to developing plantar fasciitis include persons with high arches (pes cavus), low arches (pes planus), a discrepancy in leg length, tight or weak muscles and tendons in the legs and feet, the elderly, and those with heel spurs. Case studies also indicate plantar fasciitis may develop after knee or hip surgeries which may be caused by changes in gait or the body's healing capacity. Onset of plantar fasciitis may occur after an injury, a change in gait patterns, new runners, or workers spending lengthy time on concrete and asphalt surfaces.
Microscopic tears repeatedly occur in the plantar fascia, thus preventing a complete healing in the affected area. Gait changes, specifically from the foot pain, can lead to complications in the knees, hips and the back.
How Reflexology Might Help Plantar Fasciitis Sufferers
Friction massage of the plantar, or bottom, of the foot is frequently recommended by doctors as part of a treatment plan for plantar fasciitis. Yes, the sufferer could simply go for a foot massage but a reflexologist is looking at the big picture, a holistic way of helping the body heal. How is the body affected by plantar fasciitis? Plantar fasciitis isn't just about the foot - it has the ability to effect the entire body.
A reflexologist isn’t giving a foot massage, she is working through the body’s nervous system to have an effect on the entire body. Through this combination of foot-specific work, a whole body therapeutic effect, and isolated stretching of the lower body case studies show reflexology can help speed recovery.
Case Studies on Plantar Fasciitis
A middle aged stay-at-home mom complained of chronic heel pain ongoing for seven years. The client had tried physical therapy and orthotics with no long-term pain relief. After an initial foot reflexology session, the woman experienced an increase in tenderness to the area followed by four days or decreased pain. A second foot reflexology session was administered and the client maintained a sporadic schedule of at-home stretches. The client was satisfied to discontinue treatments after the second session as she reported being pain free with mild stiffness upon rising in the morning.
A middle aged woman presented with sharp plantar foot pain after going on a charity walk. A single foot reflexology session was given with instructions on self-care techniques for stretching and foot baths at home. Pain was resolved within a week of the initial session.
References:
- Plantar Fasciitis - MayoClinic.com, accessed online December 2009.
- Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis from American Family Physician, accessed online December 2009.
- Author's personal case studies and research in Reflexology for the use of foot pain, in practice since 2004.
Amy Kreydin - Amy Kreydin, NBCRT, CCAP, BD is a Board Certified Reflexologist and Clinical Aromatherapist.
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