Plantar Fasciitis Affects About Two Million People in America

The Foot/Calf Connection

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that affects about two million people in America. One million of those with plantar fasciitis seek primary care from physicians and foot specialists each year due to the debilitating pain caused by the condition.

While many people associate plantar fasciitis with having a bad heel, the problem usually arises from the calf muscles. This post explores five calf trigger points that may contribute to your heel pain. But first:

What Is Plantar Fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue running across the bottom of the foot, responsible for supporting the arch of the foot. It connects with your calf muscles in the calcareous heel bone. When too much pressure is put on your calves, they pull the calcareous heel bone, pulling the plantar fascia, which causes pain and discomfort along the bottom of your heel.

Factors that Increase the Risk of Plantar Fasciitis

While research on the exact causes of plantar fasciitis is still ongoing, strong signs point towards you getting the condition if you:

• Are overweight and obese

• Are active on your feet for long hours

• Run long distances

• Have abnormal foot pattern (e.g., flat feet or high arch)

• Wear shoes with poor arch support and soft soles often

Most people who develop plantar fasciitis are between 40 to 60 years old.

Trigger Points that May Be the Source of Your Plantar Fasciitis

The body contains locations where if pressure is applied properly, it can lead to functional changes. These areas are what we call “trigger points.” The five key trigger points of plantar fasciitis include:

Gastrocnemius

• The gastrocnemius is a flat muscle just beneath the skin’s surface. It forms most of the calf muscles, and its outline is visible on the lower back of your leg. When this muscle is strained, it causes calf tightness that has been known to cause trouble in the lower part of your foot.

Soleus

• The soleus is a significant muscle located on the deeper part of the back of your lower leg. It originates from the shin bone and attaches to the heel as part of the Achilles tendon and is useful for walking, running, and jumping. When an injury occurs to the soleus muscle, the effect may affect the heel bone, causing heel pain.

Posterior Tibialis

• The posterior tibialis is a tendon made up of strong tissues. It connects the muscles at the back of your calves to the bones inside your foot and provides support when walking. If the posterior tibialis tendon becomes dysfunctional, it doesn’t support the foot’s arch, causing plantar fasciitis.

Hamstring

• Hamstring muscles are three muscles running along the back of the thigh from the hip to slightly below the knee. These muscles allow you to bend your knee and extend your leg behind your body. In many cases, hamstring tightness has been known to cause increased knee flexion, which increases the risk of plantar fasciitis due to prolonged forefoot loading.

Quadratus Plantae

• The Quadratus Plantae is a group of 20 muscles located on the sole. The bulk of this muscle consists of lateral and medial heads, with the latter being smaller than the former. When this muscle becomes weak, it causes your toes to curl inward, which, in turn, causes a strain on your plantar fascia.

These muscles all trigger plantar fasciitis. When they become too tight, they impact your ankles and the bottom of your feet, leading to pain.

Our trigger point therapy can help to improve your condition gradually and possibly solve it altogether. Contact Dr. Eric Cerré for an in-depth discussion of trigger point injections for your plantar fasciitis.