Plantar Fasciitis: Guidelines From the American Physical Therapy Association
Am Fam Physician. 2025;111(2):186-187
Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.
KEY POINTS FOR PRACTICE
• Stretching the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, and especially the plantar fascia, reduces pain and disability in plantar fasciitis.
• Strengthening exercises for toe flexors, ankle evertors and invertors, and the gastrocnemius improve pain and function more than stretching alone.
• Dry needling of the gastrocnemius, soles, and plantar muscles improves pain and reduces disability for up to 6 months.
From the AFP Editors
Plantar fasciitis is responsible for 15% of foot pain and most commonly presents in men and women 40 to 60 years of age. The gradual onset of pain at the plantar fascia origin at the medial calcaneal tubercle is common and often lasts more than 1 year before patients seek treatment. Plantar fasciitis often has inflammatory and degenerative characteristics. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) released updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of plantar fasciitis.
DIAGNOSIS
Evaluation
Plantar fasciitis classically presents with plantar medial heel pain that worsens with initial steps after a period of inactivity. An increase in weight bearing can also precipitate pain and is more likely to be present in nonathletic individuals with a high body mass index.
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