Running Injury Treatment - Spokane, WA
Reviewed By: Stephen Byers, DC CSCS
PLANTAR FASCIITIS--AND WHAT ACTUALLY FIXES IT
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common — and most stubborn — running injuries we treat at the Movement Clinic. There is usually an explanation, and there is usually a solution.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Pain that follows you on every run
"My heel hurts getting out of bed every morning."
"It loosens up after a few minutes of running, but comes back later."
"I feel it when I stand up after sitting for a while."
"My arch feels like a bruise."
"I increased my milage and then started noticing the pain."
"My calves feel so tight."
Why It Happens
Two patterns we see in almost every runner with plantar fasciitis
OVERSTRIDING
Overstriding happens when a runner's foot lands out in front of the body. This drives a heavy braking force through the heel and the plantar fascia at every step. Repeated over hundreds or thousands of strides, that braking load is exactly what the plantar fascia isn't built to absorb.
EXCESSIVE ARCH COLLAPSE
When the foot hits the ground, the arch should lower a little to absorb shock and then stiffen up to push off. When that arch collapses too much or stays collapsed too long, the plantar fascia gets stretched and overloaded with every step. Over time, that's where the irritation builds up.
What's Driving It
The physical reasons these patterns develop
Running mechanics don't happen in isolation. They're usually the body's way of working around a physical limitation. When we evaluate runners with plantar fasciitis, we commonly find one or more of these:
POOR SINGLE LEG STANCE
Runners who have difficulty balancing on one-leg have difficulty maintaining their posture, alignment and landing mechanics. This can lead to collapse of the arch of the foot and stress the plantar fascia.
TIGHT CALVES AND ACHILLES
The calf and Achilles connect directly into the heel. When they're tight, they pull on the heel and add tension to the plantar fascia even when you're standing still--let alone running.
INADEQUATE WARM-UP
Most runners go from a sitting directly to their run. Cold, stiff tissue limits mobility and magnifies poor running mechanics. A 5-10 minute targeted warm-up makes a measurable difference for the foot and calf.
LIMITED ANKLE MOBILITY
Limited dorsiflexion — the ability of the ankle to bend forward — is a common contributor we see. When the ankle can't bend, the foot has to find motion somewhere, and the arch ends up taking the hit.
POOR LOWER BODY MECHANICS
When the legs are landing out in front of the body this is hard on the hip. When the hip, knee and ankle are having difficulty coordinating the landing this too causes problems for the hip.
POOR RECOVERY BETWEEN RUNS
Small irritations accumulate. Without consistent recovery work between runs, stiff joints and tight tissues compound — turning a minor heel ache into the kind of persistent pain that lasts months.
Our Approach
How we evaluate running-related plantar fasciitis at the Movement Clinic
Most plantar fasciitis treatment starts with the symptom. We start with the movement--because that's where the answer usually is.
01
FULL MOVEMENT ASSESSMENT
We assess basic mobility, stability, and movement patterns across your whole body--not just your foot. This reveals any physical limitations which may be contributing to the problem, not just where it hurts.
02
RUNNING-SPECIFIC BIOMECHANICAL TESTING
We assess your strength, power and running mechanics to see how your physical limitations connect to your running pattern. Understanding whether pain is coming from physical restrictions, running mechanics, or both shapes everything that comes next.
03
SPORTS CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Targeted adjustments restore motion to stiff joints and reduce irritation to the affected areas of the body. Soft-tissue treatments help loosen muscles and reduce pain.
04
RUNNING-SPECIFIC REHABILITATION
We use exercises to help you learn how to use the areas of your body that have been too locked up to work properly. We work to strengthen those muscles so you don't end up back where you started again.
05
RETURN TO RUN PLANNING
We use our Rock your Run training guide to help you understand how to warm-up, train between runs, and manage load so you can keep running--not just recover from it.
Learn more about our Rock Your Run Recovery Care Program
Common Question
Should you stop running if you have plantar fasciitis?
In most cases, you don't have to stop running entirely — but some short-term modifications usually help things settle down faster. Plantar fasciitis is one of the more stubborn running injuries, and continuing to load it the same way you got there rarely works.
What we want to understand is why it's happening. Once that's clear, we can adjust your volume, your footwear choices, your warm-up, and what you're doing between runs — and the pain starts to improve while you keep moving.
Pain that lasts more than 2–3 weeks, heel pain that's getting worse rather than better, or pain that's now showing up in both feet are all signs it's worth getting assessed sooner rather than later. Plantar fasciitis tends to respond well when it's caught early and gets harder to resolve the longer you push through it.
What to Expect
Realistic recovery timelines
Every runner is different, but here's what we typically see based on the nature of the issue.
6-8 VISITS
Acute Flare-up
Recent onset, first-time issue. Fast response with the right treatment and activity modification
4-8 WEEKS
Persistent or Recurring Pain
Pain that has been present for weeks or months, or keeps coming back. Requires addressing the underlying movement dysfunctions.
8-16 WEEKS
Performance Rebuild
Full recovery requires building the necessary mobility, strength and running mechanics needed to stay pain-free for the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions runners ask us about plantar fasciitis
Q: Can a chiropractor actually help with running-related plantar fasciitis?
A: Yes--particularly when the care is movement-based rather than just adjustment-focused. Chiropractic care that combines adjustments with targeted mobility and strength work addresses both the pain and the underlying pattern driving it. Most runners see meaningful improvement within a few weeks.
Q: Do I need imaging before coming in?
A: No. In most cases of running-related plantar fasciitis, imaging isn't the first step. Our movement assessment gives us the information we need to get started. If imaging becomes relevant, we'll let you know and we can help order it.
Q: Is this just age--should I expect plantar fasciitis as a runner?
A: This is one of the most common things we hear--and it's rarely true. Running-related plantar fasciitis is almost always the result of a movement pattern, not age. We regularly work with runners in their 50s, 60s, and 70s who resolve persistent plantar fasciitis once the underlying cause is identified.
Q: Do I need orthotics or special shoes?
A: Sometimes — but not as often as people think. Orthotics can be useful as a short-term tool to take stress off the fascia while we address the underlying mobility and strength issues. The goal is to build a foot that doesn't need the orthotic long-term, not to make you dependent on one.
Q: How is this different from seeing a regular chiropractor or physical therapist?
A: Our team specializes in working with runners and active adults. We assess movement patterns, understand running mechanics, and build treatment plans that include targeted exercise and adjustments. We're focused on solving the problem and getting you back to running.