Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsIs Running Safe?Tips for RunnersWhen to Seek CareFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Is Running Safe?
Tips for Runners
When to Seek Care
Frequently Asked Questions
Plantar fasciitisis a painful condition that results from inflammation of the plantar fascia (a band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes). Walking,running, and even standing on your feet when you have plantar fasciitis can be very painful and uncomfortable.When your plantar fasciitis is treated appropriately, you can manage symptoms and resume activities with less pain and discomfort.Rapeepong Puttakumwong / Getty ImagesPlantar Fasciitis SymptomsTheplantar fasciasupports the main arch of the foot and absorbs force when transferring weight between your feet when walking and running. It can cause sharp pain where the plantar fascia connects to the heel bone and along the foot’s arch.Other symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:Pain that worsens with the first steps of the morningPain that worsens after prolonged sitting, standing, lying down, or walkingTenderness to the touchCalf muscle tightness and decreased ankle range of motionSwelling at the heelTreating Plantar FasciitisTreatment for plantar fasciitis involves decreasinginflammationand increasing the strength and range of motion of the foot and ankle muscles. Treatment options include:Resting and limiting standing, walking, and runningApplying ice or a cold pack to your feetStretching and strengthening your feet and anklesUsinganti-inflammatorymedicationMassaging your foot and calf musclesWearing custom footorthoticsor a night splintCortisone injectionsPhysical therapyIs Running With Plantar Fasciitis Safe?People who struggle with plantar fasciitis can resume running, but be cautious to avoid further pain and injury. Plantar fasciitis in runners most often develops from increasing the distance, speed, duration, and/or frequency of running too much too soon, which causes repeated impact to the feet.The forces absorbed through the feet with running are the equivalent of double or triple your body weight.Early treatment is important for managing your symptoms to maintain your ability to run. If you have severe and/or persistent pain, you should stop running temporarily. Once your condition has improved with appropriate treatment, you can gradually work back up to running again.How Long Should You Stop Running?The severity of your plantar fasciitis will determine how long you will need to stop running, but generally, a break of one to two weeks may be necessary to help decrease your symptoms.10 Tips for Runners With Plantar FasciitisCertain modifications and tips can help make running with plantar fasciitis less painful.Wear the Right ShoesFlat feetand low foot arches increase the likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis due to increased strain on the foot arches, which stresses the plantar fascia. This can cause chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia over time.Wearing the right running shoes with supportive foot arches is crucial for maintaining proper alignment of the joints, connective tissue, and muscles of your feet and ankles.When Plantar Fasciitis Is So Bad You Can’t WalkWarm Up Before Every RunWarming up before you run can help improve circulation and decrease joint stiffness and muscle tightness, reducing strain on your feet as you run.Warm-up exercises can include anything that activates your muscles and moves your joints, such as ankle circles, heel raises, leg swings, squats, and lunges.What Does Cardiorespiratory Endurance Mean? 5 Exercises That Can HelpDo Plantar Fasciitis Stretches DailyTight foot and calf muscles can alter your foot, and ankle alignment and place increased stress on the plantar fascia.Regularly stretching your toes and ankles can help improve your flexibility and decrease symptoms of plantar fasciitis.How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis With a Frozen Water BottleInclude Cross-Training WorkoutsRunning is a repetitive activity that only works for specific muscle groups and repeatedly stresses joints in the same fashion. Cross-training is especially important for runners to train and strengthen muscles in different ways to correct muscle imbalances, improve functional joint alignment, and decrease the risk of repetitive overuse injuries.To cross-train, runners should focus on balance exercises and strength training of different muscle groups with varying resistances and movements, including up and down, forward and backward, and side to side.How to Lower Your Heart Rate While Running: 7 Ways and When to Seek HelpRest RegularlyPlantar fasciitis is similar totendonitis(inflammation of a tendon), resulting from too much strain on a muscle’s tendon without adequate rest.Running too many miles per day and too many days per week without allowing your body to rest causes stress on the arches of your feet from overuse.Taking enough rest days between running sessions will ensure that your body has time to recover to prevent plantar fasciitis from developing or worsening.Massage Your Feet CarefullyMassaging your feet and calves can help reduce muscle tightness, allowing the joints to move easier and decrease the pull on the plantar fascia. Massage carefully to apply firm pressure to help relieve tightness but avoid pressing too hard, which can cause sharp pain, especially during acute flare-ups of plantar fasciitis.Apply Ice DailyPlantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that can benefit from cold application to decrease pain, inflammation, and swelling. Using ice or a cold pack applied to your feet can help reduce symptoms.You can also roll your foot back and forth using afrozen water bottle, which is effective for applying both cold and pressure to help relieve pain and tightness.Avoid Running on Uneven SurfacesRunning on uneven surfaces requires increased work from your foot and ankle muscles to stabilize your joints.Because the plantar fascia is already inflamed and irritated, the challenge of running on uneven ground can cause increased stress.Address Any Foot PainAnyfoot painwill limit your ability to bear weight through your feet comfortably and can alter your foot mechanics with walking and running. Foot pain can result from various causes, so it is best to consult with your healthcare provider, apodiatrist, or aphysical therapistto address the underlying cause of your foot pain and receive appropriate treatment.Consider Kinesiology TapingKinesiology tapingyour foot and ankle may help improve your foot alignment to decrease pain and support your arches when you walk or run.Usually, two pieces of tape are used.The first piece of tape is applied from the bottom of the foot near the heel and adhered to theAchilles tendonat the back of the calf. This provides a mild stretch and keeps the foot pointing up toward you.The second piece of tape is applied at the outer edge of the bottom of the foot and pulled horizontally across the arch to be secured on the inner and top sides of your foot. This piece helps support the arch of your foot.When to See a SpecialistIf your plantar fasciitis symptoms have not improved within one month of trying at-home treatments, you should see a healthcare provider. They may recommend that you see anorthopedic physician, podiatrist, or physical therapist (movement experts who treat injuries and conditions related to the feet and ankles).SummaryPlantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia at the bottom of the foot, causing pain that worsens with standing, walking and running. Treatments like proper rest, icing, stretching, massage, kinesiology tape, avoiding uneven surfaces, and decreasing your running intensity can help manage symptoms. You may need one to two weeks or more of a break from running to reduce the severity of your plantar fasciitis.A Word From VerywellWhile it can be frustrating to take a break from running, giving yourself time to heal is necessary to reduce symptoms of plantar fasciitis. When appropriately managed with rest, ice, supportive footwear, and stretches, plantar fasciitis can be managed so you can safely return to physical activity.Frequently Asked QuestionsRunning can worsen symptoms of plantar fasciitis if treatment methods are not used. Rest and supportive footwear are essential for decreasing stress at the foot arches.You can perform cardio workouts when you have plantar fasciitis, but you should be mindful of limiting the amount of time you are on your feet if your symptoms increase. The use of supportive footwear with arch support is important when participating in any workout that requires being on your feet.Rest, ice, foot and calf stretch, and supportive footwear are generally effective in decreasing symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitisis a painful condition that results from inflammation of the plantar fascia (a band of tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes). Walking,running, and even standing on your feet when you have plantar fasciitis can be very painful and uncomfortable.
When your plantar fasciitis is treated appropriately, you can manage symptoms and resume activities with less pain and discomfort.
Rapeepong Puttakumwong / Getty Images
Plantar Fasciitis Symptoms
Theplantar fasciasupports the main arch of the foot and absorbs force when transferring weight between your feet when walking and running. It can cause sharp pain where the plantar fascia connects to the heel bone and along the foot’s arch.
Other symptoms of plantar fasciitis include:
Treating Plantar FasciitisTreatment for plantar fasciitis involves decreasinginflammationand increasing the strength and range of motion of the foot and ankle muscles. Treatment options include:Resting and limiting standing, walking, and runningApplying ice or a cold pack to your feetStretching and strengthening your feet and anklesUsinganti-inflammatorymedicationMassaging your foot and calf musclesWearing custom footorthoticsor a night splintCortisone injectionsPhysical therapy
Treating Plantar Fasciitis
Treatment for plantar fasciitis involves decreasinginflammationand increasing the strength and range of motion of the foot and ankle muscles. Treatment options include:Resting and limiting standing, walking, and runningApplying ice or a cold pack to your feetStretching and strengthening your feet and anklesUsinganti-inflammatorymedicationMassaging your foot and calf musclesWearing custom footorthoticsor a night splintCortisone injectionsPhysical therapy
Treatment for plantar fasciitis involves decreasinginflammationand increasing the strength and range of motion of the foot and ankle muscles. Treatment options include:
Is Running With Plantar Fasciitis Safe?
People who struggle with plantar fasciitis can resume running, but be cautious to avoid further pain and injury. Plantar fasciitis in runners most often develops from increasing the distance, speed, duration, and/or frequency of running too much too soon, which causes repeated impact to the feet.
The forces absorbed through the feet with running are the equivalent of double or triple your body weight.
Early treatment is important for managing your symptoms to maintain your ability to run. If you have severe and/or persistent pain, you should stop running temporarily. Once your condition has improved with appropriate treatment, you can gradually work back up to running again.
How Long Should You Stop Running?The severity of your plantar fasciitis will determine how long you will need to stop running, but generally, a break of one to two weeks may be necessary to help decrease your symptoms.
How Long Should You Stop Running?
The severity of your plantar fasciitis will determine how long you will need to stop running, but generally, a break of one to two weeks may be necessary to help decrease your symptoms.
10 Tips for Runners With Plantar Fasciitis
Certain modifications and tips can help make running with plantar fasciitis less painful.
Wear the Right Shoes
Flat feetand low foot arches increase the likelihood of developing plantar fasciitis due to increased strain on the foot arches, which stresses the plantar fascia. This can cause chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia over time.
Wearing the right running shoes with supportive foot arches is crucial for maintaining proper alignment of the joints, connective tissue, and muscles of your feet and ankles.
When Plantar Fasciitis Is So Bad You Can’t Walk
Warm Up Before Every Run
Warming up before you run can help improve circulation and decrease joint stiffness and muscle tightness, reducing strain on your feet as you run.Warm-up exercises can include anything that activates your muscles and moves your joints, such as ankle circles, heel raises, leg swings, squats, and lunges.
What Does Cardiorespiratory Endurance Mean? 5 Exercises That Can Help
Do Plantar Fasciitis Stretches Daily
Tight foot and calf muscles can alter your foot, and ankle alignment and place increased stress on the plantar fascia.Regularly stretching your toes and ankles can help improve your flexibility and decrease symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
How to Treat Plantar Fasciitis With a Frozen Water Bottle
Include Cross-Training Workouts
Running is a repetitive activity that only works for specific muscle groups and repeatedly stresses joints in the same fashion. Cross-training is especially important for runners to train and strengthen muscles in different ways to correct muscle imbalances, improve functional joint alignment, and decrease the risk of repetitive overuse injuries.
To cross-train, runners should focus on balance exercises and strength training of different muscle groups with varying resistances and movements, including up and down, forward and backward, and side to side.
How to Lower Your Heart Rate While Running: 7 Ways and When to Seek Help
Rest Regularly
Plantar fasciitis is similar totendonitis(inflammation of a tendon), resulting from too much strain on a muscle’s tendon without adequate rest.Running too many miles per day and too many days per week without allowing your body to rest causes stress on the arches of your feet from overuse.
Taking enough rest days between running sessions will ensure that your body has time to recover to prevent plantar fasciitis from developing or worsening.
Massage Your Feet Carefully
Massaging your feet and calves can help reduce muscle tightness, allowing the joints to move easier and decrease the pull on the plantar fascia. Massage carefully to apply firm pressure to help relieve tightness but avoid pressing too hard, which can cause sharp pain, especially during acute flare-ups of plantar fasciitis.
Apply Ice Daily
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition that can benefit from cold application to decrease pain, inflammation, and swelling. Using ice or a cold pack applied to your feet can help reduce symptoms.
You can also roll your foot back and forth using afrozen water bottle, which is effective for applying both cold and pressure to help relieve pain and tightness.
Avoid Running on Uneven Surfaces
Running on uneven surfaces requires increased work from your foot and ankle muscles to stabilize your joints.Because the plantar fascia is already inflamed and irritated, the challenge of running on uneven ground can cause increased stress.
Address Any Foot Pain
Anyfoot painwill limit your ability to bear weight through your feet comfortably and can alter your foot mechanics with walking and running. Foot pain can result from various causes, so it is best to consult with your healthcare provider, apodiatrist, or aphysical therapistto address the underlying cause of your foot pain and receive appropriate treatment.
Consider Kinesiology Taping
Kinesiology tapingyour foot and ankle may help improve your foot alignment to decrease pain and support your arches when you walk or run.Usually, two pieces of tape are used.
The first piece of tape is applied from the bottom of the foot near the heel and adhered to theAchilles tendonat the back of the calf. This provides a mild stretch and keeps the foot pointing up toward you.
The second piece of tape is applied at the outer edge of the bottom of the foot and pulled horizontally across the arch to be secured on the inner and top sides of your foot. This piece helps support the arch of your foot.
When to See a Specialist
If your plantar fasciitis symptoms have not improved within one month of trying at-home treatments, you should see a healthcare provider. They may recommend that you see anorthopedic physician, podiatrist, or physical therapist (movement experts who treat injuries and conditions related to the feet and ankles).
Summary
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia at the bottom of the foot, causing pain that worsens with standing, walking and running. Treatments like proper rest, icing, stretching, massage, kinesiology tape, avoiding uneven surfaces, and decreasing your running intensity can help manage symptoms. You may need one to two weeks or more of a break from running to reduce the severity of your plantar fasciitis.
A Word From Verywell
While it can be frustrating to take a break from running, giving yourself time to heal is necessary to reduce symptoms of plantar fasciitis. When appropriately managed with rest, ice, supportive footwear, and stretches, plantar fasciitis can be managed so you can safely return to physical activity.
Frequently Asked QuestionsRunning can worsen symptoms of plantar fasciitis if treatment methods are not used. Rest and supportive footwear are essential for decreasing stress at the foot arches.You can perform cardio workouts when you have plantar fasciitis, but you should be mindful of limiting the amount of time you are on your feet if your symptoms increase. The use of supportive footwear with arch support is important when participating in any workout that requires being on your feet.Rest, ice, foot and calf stretch, and supportive footwear are generally effective in decreasing symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
Running can worsen symptoms of plantar fasciitis if treatment methods are not used. Rest and supportive footwear are essential for decreasing stress at the foot arches.
You can perform cardio workouts when you have plantar fasciitis, but you should be mindful of limiting the amount of time you are on your feet if your symptoms increase. The use of supportive footwear with arch support is important when participating in any workout that requires being on your feet.
Rest, ice, foot and calf stretch, and supportive footwear are generally effective in decreasing symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. A systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician.2018 Apr 15;97(8):510-516. PMID: 29671490.Holowka NB, Wallace IJ, Lieberman DE.Foot strength and stiffness are related to footwear use in a comparison of minimally- vs. conventionally-shod populations.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3679. Published 2018 Feb 27. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21916-7American Council on Exercise.6 benefits of a dynamic warm-up for running.Lim AT, How CH, Tan B.Management of plantar fasciitis in the outpatient setting.Singapore Med J.2016;57(4):168-70. doi:10.11622/smedj.2016069Toresdahl BG, McElheny K, Metzl J, Ammerman B, Chang B, Kinderknecht J.A randomized study of a strength training program to prevent injuries in runners of the new york city marathon. Sports Health. 2020;12(1):74-79.Goff JD, Crawford R.Diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis. Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(6):676-82.Young CC, Rutherford DS, Niedfeldt MW.Treatment of plantar fasciitis.Am Fam Physician. 2001;63(3):467-475.Mount Sinai.Plantar fasciitis.Wang JS, Um GM, Choi JH.Immediate effects of kinematic taping on lower extremity muscle tone and stiffness in flexible flat feet.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(4):1339–1342. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.1339
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. A systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician.2018 Apr 15;97(8):510-516. PMID: 29671490.Holowka NB, Wallace IJ, Lieberman DE.Foot strength and stiffness are related to footwear use in a comparison of minimally- vs. conventionally-shod populations.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3679. Published 2018 Feb 27. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21916-7American Council on Exercise.6 benefits of a dynamic warm-up for running.Lim AT, How CH, Tan B.Management of plantar fasciitis in the outpatient setting.Singapore Med J.2016;57(4):168-70. doi:10.11622/smedj.2016069Toresdahl BG, McElheny K, Metzl J, Ammerman B, Chang B, Kinderknecht J.A randomized study of a strength training program to prevent injuries in runners of the new york city marathon. Sports Health. 2020;12(1):74-79.Goff JD, Crawford R.Diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis. Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(6):676-82.Young CC, Rutherford DS, Niedfeldt MW.Treatment of plantar fasciitis.Am Fam Physician. 2001;63(3):467-475.Mount Sinai.Plantar fasciitis.Wang JS, Um GM, Choi JH.Immediate effects of kinematic taping on lower extremity muscle tone and stiffness in flexible flat feet.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(4):1339–1342. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.1339
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. A systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician.2018 Apr 15;97(8):510-516. PMID: 29671490.Holowka NB, Wallace IJ, Lieberman DE.Foot strength and stiffness are related to footwear use in a comparison of minimally- vs. conventionally-shod populations.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3679. Published 2018 Feb 27. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21916-7American Council on Exercise.6 benefits of a dynamic warm-up for running.Lim AT, How CH, Tan B.Management of plantar fasciitis in the outpatient setting.Singapore Med J.2016;57(4):168-70. doi:10.11622/smedj.2016069Toresdahl BG, McElheny K, Metzl J, Ammerman B, Chang B, Kinderknecht J.A randomized study of a strength training program to prevent injuries in runners of the new york city marathon. Sports Health. 2020;12(1):74-79.Goff JD, Crawford R.Diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis. Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(6):676-82.Young CC, Rutherford DS, Niedfeldt MW.Treatment of plantar fasciitis.Am Fam Physician. 2001;63(3):467-475.Mount Sinai.Plantar fasciitis.Wang JS, Um GM, Choi JH.Immediate effects of kinematic taping on lower extremity muscle tone and stiffness in flexible flat feet.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(4):1339–1342. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.1339
Petraglia F, Ramazzina I, Costantino C.Plantar fasciitis in athletes: diagnostic and treatment strategies. A systematic review.Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2017;7(1):107-118. doi:10.11138/mltj/2017.7.1.107
Arnold MJ, Moody AL.Common Running Injuries: Evaluation and Management.Am Fam Physician.2018 Apr 15;97(8):510-516. PMID: 29671490.
Holowka NB, Wallace IJ, Lieberman DE.Foot strength and stiffness are related to footwear use in a comparison of minimally- vs. conventionally-shod populations.Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):3679. Published 2018 Feb 27. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21916-7
American Council on Exercise.6 benefits of a dynamic warm-up for running.
Lim AT, How CH, Tan B.Management of plantar fasciitis in the outpatient setting.Singapore Med J.2016;57(4):168-70. doi:10.11622/smedj.2016069
Toresdahl BG, McElheny K, Metzl J, Ammerman B, Chang B, Kinderknecht J.A randomized study of a strength training program to prevent injuries in runners of the new york city marathon. Sports Health. 2020;12(1):74-79.
Goff JD, Crawford R.Diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis. Am Fam Physician. 2011;84(6):676-82.
Young CC, Rutherford DS, Niedfeldt MW.Treatment of plantar fasciitis.Am Fam Physician. 2001;63(3):467-475.
Mount Sinai.Plantar fasciitis.
Wang JS, Um GM, Choi JH.Immediate effects of kinematic taping on lower extremity muscle tone and stiffness in flexible flat feet.J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(4):1339–1342. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.1339
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