Plantar Fasciitis and Foot Pain

“Plantar fasciitis” refers to pain in a specific area of the foot, and it’s more common than you might think. But for effective relief, you don’t just need to know where it hurts – you need to know why.

If you’re in pain and ready to jump right into our proven strategies for fast, effective foot pain relief, then please click here.

Interested in knowing more about potential causes of pain in your foot? Keep reading.

What is plantar fasciitis?
What to do about plantar fasciitis pain
Finding the source of your foot pain
1. Inflammation foot pain: Causes and treatment
2. Nerve foot pain: Causes and treatment
3. Mechanical foot pain: Causes and treatment
Supplements for foot pain
Ice, rest, and orthotics for foot pain
Getting help and treatment for foot pain
Plantar fasciitis FAQs

You have foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis – so, now what?

Before you start trying out different stretches or exercises, let’s get to the root of your pain. And then, we’ll know exactly which approach will be your personalized fast track to pain relief.

Here’s how it works:

With just 8 yes or no questions – and less than 5 minutes – we’ll help you pinpoint the potential source of your pain.
Based on your potential cause of plantar fasciitis pain, we’ll match you to the right care method.
Then, you’ll be ready to start targeting the pain source, not just the symptoms, and you can begin making steady progress right away.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is a foot pain condition linked to the arch of your foot. But a plantar fasciitis diagnosis isn’t necessarily the key to effective treatment.

What’s most important is to pinpoint the root cause of your foot pain, so you can eliminate it and achieve pain relief in a matter of weeks.

Here’s the good news: finding the specific source of your foot pain, and then finding the right solution, can be as simple as answering a few questions.

Regardless of whether your foot pain is in the plantar region or any other part of your foot, the myKinetix365 method is designed to:

Help differentiate the three main potential causes of the pain, and then;
Deliver an evidence-based, curated plan to address it using a unique set of sequential steps that combines (a) a change of habits, (b) supplements, and (c) a specific set of therapeutic exercises and fascial releases.

Straightforward, simple, and effective – let’s get started.

What to Do About Plantar Fasciitis Pain

First, rule out that there isn’t a fracture or a muscle or ligament tear in the foot, or an auto-immune disease condition causing your symptoms or impeding the healing of your injury.

It is critically important that you are cleared by a medical professional to make sure there isn’t a fracture or a muscle / ligament tear, or an auto-immune disease involved. This can typically be achieved through the use of imaging (like an MRI or x-ray), or the appropriate blood testing in the case of auto-immune conditions.

Once you’ve been cleared by a medical professional, you can continue to pursue one of our at-home, self-care plans for plantar fasciitis pain.

Once the injuries/conditions above are ruled out, there are three main types of plantar fasciitis, or modes of injury to the plantar fascia, that account for the overwhelming majority of foot conditions.

Actual swelling or inflammation of the plantar fascia itself due to a sudden, significant (“macro”) trauma or small (“micro”), repetitive traumas/habits
An entrapped nerve in the area located on the inside of your ankle and Achilles tendon
A mechanical issue in the foot caused by faulty walking or standing mechanics, leading the plantar fascia to become overstressed and causing pain in specific moments of the day or during specific activities

Why does this matter? The type of pain you are suffering from should directly dictate the approach you take to pain relief. This is why so many generic plantar fasciitis treatments fail to deliver effective, sustainable results.

Pain relief isn’t one-size-fits-all. So, let’s figure out which of our clinically-developed plans is right for you.

Let’s work through a short series of questions to determine the best plan to handle your symptoms.

Answer yes or no to the following questions:

Do you have foot pain in all ranges of motion ?
Does your foot hurt all the time?

If you answered yes to either of these questions:

It’s likely that your foot pain is mostly caused by an inflammatory issue.
If you like, you can stop here and jump straight to our section on Inflammatory Pain.

If you answered no, or are unsure, please continue with the next set of questions.

Do you have tingling and/or numbness around the foot, ankle or toes?
Do you sometimes get a sudden sharp and/or “shooting” pain in the middle of doing an activity or when you twist or turn your foot in a particular direction?

If you answered yes to either of these questions:

The most likely cause of your foot problem is from a stuck nerve.
If you like, you can stop here and jump straight to our section on Nerve Pain.

If you answered no, or are unsure, please continue with the next set of questions.

Have you had a recent change in lifestyle the last few months, like a lot more time at the computer, a new job, or a new life situation, with different physical demands, that might be putting a strain on your knees, ankles or feet ?
Does your foot hurt more in the morning and gets better throughout the day?
Does your foot hurt more at the end of the day or after doing an activity like running or walking?
Does your foot hurt only in one or two ranges of movement?

If you answered yes to any of these questions:

You are likely stuck in what we call a “Mechanical Pain” condition, meaning that there may be something about the way you are walking, standing, sitting, or even sleeping that could be causing your foot pain.

Why is knowing the potential source of your pain so important?

Ultimately, the source of your pain tells you virtually everything you need to know about how to resolve your symptoms. When you don’t know why you’re in pain, effectively treating the issue becomes impossible.

That’s why so many standard plantar fasciitis treatments simply don’t work.

If you are suffering from Inflammatory Pain, STOP exercising your foot.

Exercising on an inflamed foot can possibly cause more damage and impede healing, so it is vital that you take the appropriate measures to manage the inflammation before anything.

Your top priority – before stretching and exercises – is to reduce the inflammation.
Using supplements that help tissue healing will also be key, especially if you want to get back on track as quickly as possible.

If you’re dealing with inflammatory pain, and you’ve been doing plantar fasciitis exercises – and you aren’t seeing results – then it’s time to switch gears with a tailored care plan that’s actually suited to your needs.

If you are suffering from Nerve Pain, STOP doing foot stretches and DO NOT resort to surgery just yet.

Your top priorities are to:

Use unique nerve-specific mobilizations (sometimes called “flosses”), that can help free the “stuck” nerves from the fascia that is entrapping them.
Take supplements that help the nerve heal. Because nerves are notoriously slow healers, supporting your goals with supplements can make a big difference.

You might have been told that stretching will solve your nerve pain, or that you need surgery to take care of a chronic issue. But if you haven’t yet tried mobilizations/nerve flossing, now is the time to hit “pause,” because this approach could be the solution you’ve needed all along.

If you are suffering from Mechanical Pain, IMMEDIATELY begin targeting the actions/habits that are contributing to your pain.

There is either something “off” happening in your everyday life, or there is a mechanical issue in another part of your body that your foot is trying to compensate for (such as weak hip muscles, an overly tight calf/hamstring, or both).

This means that your priorities are:

Examining the way you walk, stand, sit, and even sleep to find any potential “red flags.” Seemingly simple movements or habits are often the cause of mechanical pain.
Incorporate targeted releases to support other parts of your body, so that your foot/feet isn’t being forced to compensate.

Our self-care plan zeroes in on the causes of foot pain, which is why it works.

Supplements for Foot Pain

Skip the over-complicated supplement plans for pain relief, and fast track your results with the ones that actually work.

Supplements for Nerve Pain

When you have foot pain caused by a nerve condition, healing the nerves is essential. But because nerves are very slow to heal, supplements are the best way to support your progress.

Omega3 Fish Oil: Helps heal the nerve sheath (protects the nerve)
Lipoic Acid: Supports nerve regeneration
Chelated Magnesium: Gently slows the nerve response, reducing tingling and numbness
Methyl B Complex: Boosts neurological health

Supplements for Inflammation Pain

The inflammation that’s contributing to your pain has to be reduced before you can move forward. These supplements will help.

KXFlammed: This blend of turmeric, boswellia, and yanhusuo is an extensively-researched trio for anti-inflammatory support
Omega3 Fish Oil: Helps support connective tissue/joint health and healing
Topical cream: An easy-to-use cream to for fast, targeted pain and inflammation relief

Supplements for Mechanical Pain

If your goal is to correct mechanical pain, fueling your body with the right supplements will make all the difference.

Mitochondrial Support: Delivers cellular-level energy for effective healing
Collagen: Allows for the production of raw materials needed to rebuild tissue
Magnesium: Boosts blood flow for more efficient healing

Ice, Rest, and Orthotics for Foot Pain

Take Action Now and Get Relief from Plantar Fasciitis Pain

The myKinetix365 plan empowers you to improve your symptoms with at-home strategies that take just a few minutes each day. You can achieve significant progress in three to eight weeks (depending on the type and severity of your pain), and reclaim your freedom from pain.

If you’re still unsure about what might be going on with your foot pain, we suggest using our eight-question evaluation to determine your best next steps.

Or, if you’re confident that you know how to move forward, you can move directly to our customized plans for each pain type:

Inflammation Foot Pain
Nerve-Related Foot Pain
Mechanical Foot Pain

You can also get more information about supplements that can help you achieve faster, more sustainable results on our Supplements for Pain page. There, we cover the most important considerations for choosing supplements for your specific pain type.

For significant cost savings, you can also choose from myKintetix365 treatment plans and supplement bundles. When you purchase them as a bundle, you enjoy an even easier and more affordable approach to pain relief.

Interested in learning more about your options? We’ve created a short, informative video that breaks it all down here.

Frequently-Asked Questions: Plantar Fasciitis

What causes plantar fasciitis?

In many cases, “plantar fasciitis” is a diagnosis given to individuals experiencing pain in specific areas of the foot. However, the cause of plantar fasciitis can’t necessarily be attributed to just one factor. Rather, the foot pain associated with this and similar conditions typically falls into one of three categories: mechanical, nerve, or inflammation pain. Our short evaluation is designed to help you effectively pinpoint the potential cause of your pain so that you can make informed decisions for your treatment.

What are the symptoms of plantar fasciitis?

The signs of plantar fasciitis can vary in severity, but the most common red flag is a sharp pain near the heel. Depending on the specific type of foot pain you’re dealing with, the timing of your pain (and how it manifests) can differ.

Who is at risk of developing plantar fasciitis?

Just about anybody can experience plantar fasciitis, or foot pain in general. But there are certain factors that can increase your risk of developing a pain condition, including specific habits or everyday movements. Shoes that fail to provide proper arch support can also contribute to the issue, as can flat feet or higher-than-average arches.

Will plantar fasciitis go away on its own?

It might be tempting to ignore your pain and try to power through it – but that could be a big mistake. No matter the source of your pain, attempting to continue your regular activities despite your discomfort won’t solve the problem. In fact, it can make your pain much worse. Getting relief from your foot pain could be as simple as changing a few of your everyday habits, or implementing a simple routine of nerve flossing or supplements. It’s much easier to pinpoint your pain source and tackle the root cause than it is to ignore it.

What is the best plantar fasciitis treatment?

Unfortunately, many people with pain from plantar fasciitis are told to try foot stretches or exercises – or, they may be informed that surgery is their only option. Actually, your options for treating foot pain depend on the specific source of your pain. The most effective treatment can only come after you determine the cause, so you can target it appropriately. That’s why our approach to pain relief starts with a simple, straightforward evaluation – and then, we can move on to discussing your choices for treatment.

Can I still exercise with plantar fasciitis pain?

Rest is an essential component for effective pain relief, especially if your pain is stemming from inflammation or nerve-related causes. Certain exercises or stretches can actually make the problem worse, so pause any current activities until you determine your best next steps.

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