Do you or someone you know have foot or heel pain. The plantar fascia is a structure in the base of the foot that helps to support the foots natural arch. This fascia is a connective tissue that originates at the calcaneus (the heel bone) and moves towards the toes inserting on the metatarsal heads (the metatarsals are the longest bones in the foot).
The plantar fascia can become inflamed for a number of reasons, but the two biggest culprits are increased activity and amount of weight-bearing. Both of these result in the fascia becoming over worked.
Generally the fascia becomes thickened and puts increased stresses at the origin at the calcaneus. Most people with plantar fasciitis feel that the pain is greater in the morning than the evening due to the tissues tightening up during sleep.
Treatment for this condition consists of soft tissue mobilization, strengthening of the foot intrinsic musculature, stretching of the lower leg and foot, ultra sound along the sole of the foot, and ice massage. Sometimes it is necessary to use an orthotic in your shoe to redistribute the pressure within your foot. Your physical therapist at Advantage Physical Therapy can help cure this foot pain with regular treatment.
Self treatment will help control the symptoms and you can perform some of the following:
- Calf Stretch including both the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
- Foot Stretch for the intrinsic muscles of the foot.
- Self Ice Massage for both the icing and massage component of the treatment:
Fill a water bottle three-quarters of the way and freeze it. when it is frozen, roll the bottle under your foot for 2-3 minutes.
Remember to set up an appointment with your physical therapist to help heal this injury faster.
Advantage Physical Therapy 
what a great article ~ very informative i am so thankful that you and chris were able to resolve my Plantar Fasciitis problem last year. i still do the stretching & ice massage as needed.
really good article thanks so much for this helped me a great deal