Plantar Fasciitis & Achilles Tendinopathy

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain, affecting approximately 2 million Americans each year. It involves degeneration and pain of the plantar fascia — a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot connecting the heel to the toes. Pain is typically worst with the first steps in the morning or after prolonged sitting.

Achilles tendinopathy is a condition affecting the Achilles tendon, the largest tendon in the body connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone. It causes pain, stiffness, and sometimes swelling at the back of the heel or lower calf. Both conditions are common in runners, active adults, and people who spend long hours on their feet.

Modern evidence has shifted the understanding of both conditions from inflammation-based (tendinitis/fasciitis) to degeneration-based (tendinopathy/fasciopathy). This means treatment should focus on progressive tendon/fascia loading rather than rest and anti-inflammatories alone.

Your NeoLife evaluation will include a thorough assessment of foot and ankle mechanics, calf strength and flexibility, walking and running gait analysis, and hip and core screening — because weakness higher in the chain often contributes to foot and ankle problems.

Treatment is built around progressive loading — the most evidence-supported approach for both plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy. This includes heavy slow resistance training for the Achilles tendon or plantar fascia, manual therapy to the foot, ankle, and calf, functional dry needling of the calf, plantar fascia, and foot intrinsic muscles, gait and biomechanical optimization, footwear education and orthotics guidance when appropriate, and graduated return to sport or activity protocols.

Dry needling is particularly effective for these conditions. Research shows that dry needling of the plantar fascia and calf trigger points provides significant pain relief and accelerates recovery when combined with progressive exercise.